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Welcome to RelayDesk. Throughout these videos, we will follow Jordan, a newer trader with a modest account who mostly trades same-day SPY options. In this first video, Jordan signs up and picks a plan. Jordan creates an account with an email and password. You can also use Google or Apple. We email a verification link and once it is confirmed, you sign in and land on your welcome page. Your first 30 days are free on whichever plan you choose and nothing is charged until they are up. Until you pick a plan, most of the app is locked. There is one step left. Choose a plan and add a card. Every bot starts in paper mode, so nothing touches real money until you connect a live broker yourself. If you got RelayDesk through a partner community, choose Activate Partner Access instead. On Discord, we check your community role and no credit card is needed. Jordan is signing up directly, so Jordan chooses Select a Plan. Every plan is listed side by side. If you want, switch to annual billing to save 20%. The main difference between plans is how many paper and live bots you can run. Jordan starts a free trial of Pro. Checkout is handled securely by Stripe. Notice that the amount due today is zero. Your card is only charged when the trial ends and you can change or cancel your plan anytime from Billing. Jordan's subscription is active. The padlocks are gone and every page in the app is open. Next, Jordan sets up the workspace and connects a paper account.

Understanding Options Trading Automation

Options trading automation allows you to execute trades based on predefined signals without manual intervention. RelayDesk sits between TradingView (where you create your trading signals) and your broker, automatically executing trades when your conditions are met.

How it works: You create a Signal in RelayDesk, which gives you a unique webhook URL. When TradingView hits that URL, RelayDesk triggers any Bots linked to that Signal. No complex payload required, just the URL.

This course will guide you through the complete setup process, from creating your account to executing your first automated trade.

Module 1: Creating Your RelayDesk Account

Getting started with RelayDesk is quick and straightforward:

Visit relaydesk.trade and click "Get Started Free"
Sign up using Google OAuth or email/password
Verify your email if using email/password registration
Complete your profile information
Accept the Terms of Service

Pro Tip

Your RelayDesk account is free during beta. Take advantage of this time to learn the platform thoroughly.

Module 2: Connecting Your Alpaca Broker

Connect a paper broker account | RelayDesk Onboarding 2/5

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Welcome back and welcome to part two. In the last video, Jordan created an account and started a free trial. Now it is time to make RelayDesk Jordan's own. In the next few minutes, Jordan will tell us a little about how they trade and connect a paper account so every order is simulated and nothing touches real money. The setup wizard has six steps shown across the top. Completed steps turn indigo and you can go back at any point without losing your answers. First, a bit about you. Tell us how familiar you are with trading automation, what you trade, and your main goal. Your answers decide whether we start you with a ready-made bot or send you to the full builder. Jordan mostly trades same-day SPY options, so Jordan picks options and explore signals safely. The payment step is already done because you chose a plan on Billing. Next, connect a paper broker. This is where RelayDesk sends your orders. You sign in at the broker itself, so RelayDesk never sees your broker credentials. Alpaca Paper is the recommended place to start. On the broker's own site, review what RelayDesk is asking to do and choose Allow. After that, you come straight back to setup. The account now shows as connected. Not ready yet? Choose Add Broker Later. You can connect any time from Accounts, but your bot cannot place orders until you do. That wraps up part two. In part three, Jordan picks a starting strategy and creates a first bot. See you there.

Your broker executes the trades. Here's how to connect:

In RelayDesk, open Settings > Brokers.
Under Available brokers, choose your broker.
You'll be redirected to your broker's OAuth page
Log in and authorize RelayDesk
To test on paper, choose the Alpaca card marked Paper trading. Tradier and Public support live trading only.
You're connected, no API keys to copy or manage

Warning

Always start with Paper Trading! Test your strategies thoroughly before risking real capital.

Module 3: Creating a Signal

Signals are the bridge between TradingView and your bots:

Go to the Signal Library in RelayDesk
Click "Create New Signal"
Give your signal a name (e.g., "SPY Long Entry")
Select the direction (Long or Short)
Save the signal
Copy the unique webhook URL provided

Info

Each signal has its own webhook URL. No JSON payload needed, TradingView just hits the URL, and RelayDesk handles the rest.

Module 4: Setting Up TradingView Webhooks

Connect your TradingView alerts to your RelayDesk signals:

You need a TradingView Pro plan or higher for webhooks
Create an alert in TradingView based on your strategy
Enable "Webhook URL" in the alert notifications
Paste your Signal's webhook URL from RelayDesk
Leave the message body empty (or put anything—it's ignored)
Save the alert
Test by triggering the alert manually

The webhook URL is all that matters. When TradingView hits it, RelayDesk fires the signal.

Module 5: Creating Your First Bot

Create your first trading bot from a starter signal | RelayDesk Onboarding 3/5

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Welcome to part three. Jordan's account is set up and a paper broker is connected. Now it is time for the fun part, Jordan's first bot. First, how RelayDesk works. A signal says when to enter. Your bot applies your sizing and risk rules, places the order at your broker, and then manages the exits for you. RelayDesk executes your strategy. It does not pick trades for you. No strategy yet? No problem. RelayDesk prepares starter bots you can run in paper right away. Based on your answers, one is already selected for you. For an options trader exploring signals, that is SPY Momentum. Each card shows the strategy, the symbol it trades, and that it runs in paper. Click any other card to switch. You set the limits for whichever bot you choose in the next step. Already have a strategy with its own alerts? Choose the bot builder instead. You finish setup and land in the full builder. Jordan keeps SPY Momentum and continues. That is part three. In part four, Jordan sets the limits that protect the account. See you there.

Now create a bot that listens to your signal:

Go to the Bots page in RelayDesk
Click "Create New Bot"
Select your Signal from the dropdown
Choose your broker connection
Set the underlying symbol (start with SPY for testing)
Set position size to 1 contract
Configure exit strategy (e.g., 30% TP, -25% SL)
Enable risk controls (set a daily loss cap)
Save and activate your bot

Start with the simplest possible configuration. You can always add complexity later once you understand how everything works.

Module 6: Your First Automated Trade

Your dashboard and first automated paper trade | RelayDesk Onboarding 5/5

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Welcome to part five, the final part. Jordan's bot is live in paper. Let's take a look around and watch the first trade come in. Your dashboard opens with a two-minute tour. Take it now or come back to it later. Everything is one click away: bots, signals, trades, the live monitor, analytics, news, research, and the assistant. On the right, your watchlist, the theme, and the paper or live switch. At the top, your portfolio, its value and how it has moved over a day, a month or all time. The stat row tells you everything at a glance: today's P&L, account value and buying power, active bots, your 7-day win rate, and open positions. Every bot in one list. Its status, its trades, its P&L today. Pause or start any bot right from here. Along the bottom, index prices and whether the market is open. And paper stays selected until you choose live. 10:42. A signal fires. Moments later, Jordan's bot buys two same-day SPY calls in paper. The bot row, today's P&L, and open positions update live, while RelayDesk manages the exits. And that is onboarding. Let your bot run in paper. Then explore the feature videos to make it your own. Welcome to RelayDesk.

With everything set up, you're ready for your first automated trade:

Ensure your bot is active (green indicator)
Trigger your TradingView alert manually for testing
Watch the Dashboard for the signal to arrive
Verify the order was placed at your broker
Monitor the position in RelayDesk
Observe your exit strategy in action
Review the trade in Trade History after completion

Pro Tip

Monitor your first few trades closely. Check both RelayDesk and your broker to ensure everything is working as expected.

Next Steps

Congratulations on setting up your first bot! Here's what to do next:

Run your bot in paper mode for at least 1-2 weeks
Complete the Risk Management Masterclass
Learn about the Exit Engine for advanced exits
Study analytics to understand your bot's performance
Only switch to live trading after consistent paper trading success

Getting Started with RelayDesk

What You'll Learn

Understanding Options Trading Automation

Module 1: Creating Your RelayDesk Account

Module 2: Connecting Your Alpaca Broker

Module 3: Creating a Signal

Module 4: Setting Up TradingView Webhooks

Module 5: Creating Your First Bot

Module 6: Your First Automated Trade

Next Steps

Key Takeaways

Ready to put this into practice?