Signal links¶
Old-school trading signals for strategy sharing have remained primitive since traders had to send pictures, describe order parameters in plain text, and explain them manually. Now, with the signal links feature in cTrader, traders can share exact parameters with a few taps.
Signal links serve as a convenient tool to expand any trader’s online presence and distribute instant signals regarding trading opportunities and market movements via a mobile device. In turn, mobile users do not need to specify order parameters but can follow the link and tap Place order, which saves time.
This guide further explains how to create and share signal links in cTrader Mobile.
Signal links in one minute!
- Signal links equip traders with an opportunity to instantly exchange information about orders and positions. You can promote yourself as a successful trader by sharing information about market movements and trading opportunities through signal links.
- Each signal link is unique to include multiple query parameters whose value can be edited even manually outside of the cTrader app. Thus, your signal links can be customised remotely in no time.
- You can share a signal link by tapping just 1 button inside the app and then choosing your preferred sharing channel. Due to quick sharing, other traders will know about must-see market movements and profitable opportunities distributed via links.
- Multi-channel sharing allows you to stay in the cTrader Mobile app and send signal links immediately via messengers, social media and other channels.
Benefits of signal links¶
Easy sharing. Sharing your trading strategy has never been easier as you now have to make only a few taps. Previously, traders made awkward screenshots or even described the order parameters in words.
Build your reputation. Sharing effective signals on social media and other platforms is crucial for building your online reputation. Other traders are sure to pay attention once they see just how easy it is to capitalise on market movements!
Adjustments on the go. You do not have to return to the cTrader Mobile app to make adjustments to your order and position parameters. Simply amend the signal link in any text editor, or directly in the message window of any social media platform.
Advanced mobility and accessibility. Signal links may be both created and opened in the cTrader Mobile app. This allows you to remain in touch with your audience and exert control over market movements via your Android phone.
What signal links do¶
A signal link takes the form of a custom URL, which redirects traders to the Create order screen inside cTrader Mobile. The new order is configured exactly the same way as the position and order parameters chosen by a signal link provider before creating a signal link in cTrader.
For example, you have just set a sell limit order for GBPUSD with the requested entry price being equal to 1.19330, estimated take profit price at 1.19130 and estimated stop loss price at 1.19530.
By tapping the Share button, you can create a link containing all parameters for this new pending order. When other traders follow this signal link, they will be immediately forwarded to the Create order screen specifying the following.
- A Limit order type with the Sell direction selected.
- GBPUSD as a traded symbol.
- The entry price will be 1.19330.
- The expiry date will be set for 1 February 2024 at 3 p.m.
- Both the Stop loss and Take profit boxes will be ticked.
- The estimated take profit in absolute value will equal 1.19130.
- The estimated stop loss in absolute value will equal 1.19530.
After opening a signal link, any recipient should tap the Place order button to pursue your trading strategy. Recipients will also be able to customise the order parameters within the cTrader app if they wish to amend the Entry price or Stop loss and Take profit protections.
Upon tapping the link, the recipient will be asked to download the cTrader app from Google Play if it has not been installed yet.
How signal links are structured¶
Any signal link consists of several recognisable parameters and their values. The next example is structured as follows.
"https://ct.spotware.com/signal/?s=GBPUSD&d=sell&o=limit&p=1.1933&sl=1.1953&tp=1.1914&e=01-02-2024_15-00&tz=02%3a00&u=nickname"
The signal link was generated for the GBPUSD traded symbol ("?s=GBPUSD") for the sell direction ("&d=sell") of the limit order type ("&o=limit"), with the requested entry price set at 1.1933 ("&p=1.1933"), the stop loss absolute value equal to 1.1953 (“&sl=1.1953”), the take profit absolute value equal to 1.1914 ("&tp=1.1914"), the expiration date at 15:00 on the 1st of February 2024 ("&e=01-02-2024_15-00"), the user’s current time shift relative to UTC to define the time zone of the expiration date (“&tz=02%3a00”), and the user’s nickname (“&u=nickname”).
Note that the first parameter in the link is introduced via a question mark “?”, while all subsequent parameters are preceded by the “&” sign.
The following table summarises all parameters for generating signal links for orders.
| Parameter | Mandatory? | Possible values | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
?s / ?symbol | Yes | Any symbol. | The traded symbol. |
?o / ?order | Yes | market (for market orders), limit (for limit orders), stop (for stop orders), or stop-limit (for stop-limit orders). | The order type. |
?d / ?direction | Yes | Either buy or sell. | The order/position direction. |
?p / ?price | Yes - for pending orders No - for market orders | Any valid price with the dot as the decimal separator. | The requested order price. Even if it is specified, the value of this parameter is ignored if ?t=market. |
?sl | No | A valid price with the dot as the decimal separator. | The stop loss price. |
?tp | No | Any valid price with the dot as the decimal separator. | The take profit price. |
?r / ?range | No | Any number of pips with the dot as the decimal separator. | The market range (for market orders only) / limit range value (for stop limit orders only). |
?e / ?expiry | No | Any future date in the DD-MM-YYYY_hh-mm format. | The order expiry date (for non-market orders only). |
?tz | No | Any valid time offset in the hh:mm format. | The user’s current time shift relative to UTC. This parameter defines the time zone of the order expiry date. |
?ts / ?trigger-side | No | trade (for the trade side), opposite (for the opposite side), 2trade (for the double trade side), or 2opposite (for the double opposite side). | The trade side (for stop-limit orders only). |
?u or ?partnerId | No | Any valid user nickname (for ?u) or partner identifier (for ?partnerId). | A special parameter for trader attribution. If it is provided, all users who pass through the signal links will be attributed to the user with the specified nickname/identifier. |
Note
The same way as all other cTrader URLs with a (u) parameter, signal links work as invite links and execute trader attribution in branded applications. Learn more about the benefits of cTrader Invite and multi-functional invite links.
The order and position volume is not included in the parameters that constitute a signal link. The following reasons explain why.
- There is no single representation of order/position volume for different symbols. Hence, this parameter would only limit the value of the link to other traders.
- Recipients of the link would be guided by their own risk tolerance perceptions, used margin and stop-out levels to decide on appropriate order/position volume. Hence, a signal link with the volume identified would be useless to many categories of traders because of their varying risk tolerance levels.
How to generate and copy a signal link¶
Creating and copying a new signal link is done directly from cTrader Mobile by tapping the Share button. You can easily find it on the Modify pending order screen in the Orders tab and on the Modify position screen in the Positions tab.
The Android Share button is also available after you tap the pending order or position in the Overview tab directly on the active trading chart.
When you tap the Share button, you will access a native sharing tool and choose a preferred sharing channel.
How to change signal links outside cTrader¶
As shown by the structure of signal links, they are easily customisable outside the cTrader Mobile app. After you have generated and copied a link, you can easily amend the value of each parameter manually to make it best suited for your target audience. For example, for an audience with high risk tolerance, the stop-loss distance may be increased from 1.1953 to 1.1999, and the signal link would look as follows.
"https://ct.spotware.com/signal/?s=GBPUSD&d=sell&o=limit&p=1.1933&sl=1.1999&tp=1.1914&e=01-02-2024_15-00&tz=02%3a00&u=ctid134134r1325"
Follow these easy steps to amend signal links.
1. Create and copy a signal link by tapping the Share button.
2. Paste the link to Keep Notes, a new message window on any social media platform, or directly to your browser’s address bar.
3. Customise the link as text by changing the value of the parameters in accordance with the above table. For example, you can change the order direction and a requested order price. Similarly, you can replace other traders' nicknames with yours if you are sharing another trader's signal link. In this case, traders who follow such links will be attributed to you due to cTrader Invite.
4. Send the amended link or copy it if you are going to use it in a different app.
Note
If you already sent a signal link on one of your social media platforms where messages can be edited, you can amend the link straight away and its parameters will be updated.
To summarise, signal links are an essential and convenient way to share your trading strategy with other traders. The UI of the cTrader app on Android allows for generating and copying links in no time.
As all signal links are structured intuitively, you can customise them even outside of the cTrader app. Direct sharing is allowed via messengers, social media and other platforms where you can reach your audience of traders. You can simultaneously engage and attribute traders in cTrader Invite by sharing signal links.