How to Track Your Stocks Like a Pro (Beginner Guide)

How to Track Your Stocks Like a Pro (Beginner Guide)

Learn how to track your stocks like a professional even as a beginner. Discover the tools, apps, and strategies to monitor your portfolio, spot trends, and make smarter trading decisions.

When I first started trading, tracking my stocks felt overwhelming. Charts, tickers, news alerts—it all seemed like a foreign language. I remember thinking, “How can anyone keep up with all this and still make money?”

The truth is, tracking stocks effectively is a skill you can learn, and it doesn’t require years of experience. With the right tools and habits, even beginners can monitor their investments like pros.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how I track my stocks, the tools I use, and how you can implement these strategies right away. We’ll also cover beginner-friendly apps and platforms like Robinhood, Webull, and TradingView, plus my step-by-step eBook that shows how I pay my bills trading stocks.

Here are the resources you’ll want to use:

• Step-by-step eBook: Pay Bills With Stocks
• Chart analysis: TradingView
• Beginner trading: Robinhood
• Advanced beginner tools: Webull

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Step 1: Create a Watchlist

The first step to tracking your stocks like a pro is to create a watchlist. A watchlist is a list of stocks you’re interested in monitoring before making any trades.

I use TradingView to build my watchlist because it lets me:

• Add multiple stocks in one place
• Track price changes in real time
• Set alerts for important price levels

Even if you’re using beginner platforms like Robinhood or Webull, creating a watchlist is crucial. It keeps you organized and focused.

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Step 2: Track Daily Movements

Once you have a watchlist, the next step is to track daily price movements. You don’t need to check every minute, but monitoring trends at least once per day is key.

I like to look at:

• The daily chart
• Percentage change
• Volume trends

This daily habit keeps me aware of opportunities and risks before making trading decisions.

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Step 3: Use Alerts to Stay Ahead

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is not knowing when to act. That’s where alerts come in.

TradingView allows me to set alerts on:

• Price levels
• Breakouts
• Moving average crossings

This way, I don’t have to stare at charts all day. My phone or email notifies me when it’s time to review a stock.

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Step 4: Learn Key Indicators

You don’t need dozens of indicators to track stocks effectively. I focus on a few key metrics:

• Moving Averages → Show trends over time
• RSI (Relative Strength Index) → Highlights overbought or oversold stocks
• Volume → Indicates how active a stock is

Using these tools in TradingView helps me spot potential entry and exit points without overcomplicating things.

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Step 5: Track Your Portfolio Performance

Tracking isn’t just about individual stocks—it’s about your overall portfolio performance.

I track:

• Daily gains/losses
• Weekly performance
• Portfolio diversification

This gives me a clear picture of my progress and helps me make better decisions for the long-term.

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Step 6: Use Multiple Platforms

To track like a pro, I use a combination of platforms:

• TradingView → For professional-level charting and alerts
• Robinhood → For quick, beginner-friendly trades
• Webull → For detailed performance analysis and free stock bonuses

Each platform has unique strengths, and together, they give me a complete view of my investments.

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Step 7: Journal Your Trades

Tracking stocks isn’t just about numbers—it’s about recording your decisions and results. I keep a journal of every trade I make, including:

• Why I bought the stock
• My exit strategy
• What I learned from the trade

Even a simple spreadsheet can make a huge difference in understanding your habits and improving over time.

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Step 8: Watch Market News

Stocks don’t move in isolation. Market news, earnings reports, and sector trends all impact price movements. I spend a few minutes each day reviewing:

• Major news headlines
• Company earnings announcements
• Sector-specific updates

This context helps me make smarter decisions and avoid reacting emotionally.

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Step 9: Track Multiple Timeframes

Pro traders don’t just look at daily charts—they analyze multiple timeframes.

For example:

• Daily charts for overall trends
• Hourly charts for intraday movements
• Weekly charts for long-term direction

TradingView makes this easy by allowing me to switch between charts with one click.

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Step 10: Stay Consistent

The most important part of tracking stocks like a pro is consistency. Checking charts randomly or sporadically won’t give you insight. I check my watchlist and portfolio at the same times every day to build routine and discipline.

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Step 11: Practice Before Real Money

Before committing real money, I recommend paper trading. TradingView allows simulated trades with virtual money, so you can test your strategies risk-free.

This step is critical for beginners—it teaches you the process without the stress of losing real money.

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Step 12: Focus on a Few Stocks

New traders often try to track too many stocks at once. I recommend focusing on 5–10 stocks initially. This makes it easier to spot trends, notice patterns, and stay organized.

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Step 13: Review Weekly

I review my portfolio and watchlist every week to identify:

• Winners and losers
• Mistakes to correct
• Opportunities to buy or sell

Weekly reviews are what separate casual investors from those who trade like pros.

Step 14: Leverage Your Learning Resources

I constantly refer to:

• My eBook for beginner strategies: Pay Bills With Stocks
• Community ideas on TradingView
• Educational blogs and videos

The more resources you use, the faster you’ll improve your tracking skills.

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Step 15: Build Confidence Gradually

Tracking stocks like a pro doesn’t happen overnight. Start with small steps, use paper trading, and gradually integrate real money trades. Over time, your confidence will grow, and you’ll make smarter decisions consistently.

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Final Thoughts

Tracking stocks like a professional is a combination of tools, habits, and patience. Using TradingView for analysis, Robinhood for beginner trades, and Webull for advanced tracking gives you the full picture.

Pair that with consistent journaling, alerts, and regular portfolio reviews, and you’re building a skill that will last a lifetime.

And for a complete guide on how I personally turn trading into income, check out my eBook here 👉 Pay Bills With Stocks.