Taking an Entry
You found something that looks good. Now you need to enter without fumbling it.
Most losses come from bad entries, not bad ideas.
A good setup only works if the timing makes sense.
Before you click buy
You should be clear on three things:
Why you're entering (narrative strength, chart setup, momentum)
Where you'll take profit
Where you'll cut if it fails
If any of these feel unclear, wait. You already know how to plan trades from Building the Right Mindset. This is where you apply it.
Clarity beats speed.
When to enter
Look for calm, controlled entry points instead of emotional ones.
Better entries:
Buying near support instead of chasing the peak
Red candles during healthy pullbacks
Flat price with steady community interest building
Most good entries feel uncomfortable. That's normal. If it feels quiet and boring, it's probably better than the one that feels exciting.
The best entries usually happen when you're slightly unsure, not when you're convinced it's going straight up.
How to actually execute
Once you've decided to enter, here's the practical side.
Slippage is how much price movement you'll tolerate for your order to fill.
Low slippage (1-5%): Safer, but you might miss fast-moving entries
High slippage (10-20%+): More likely to fill, but you might get a worse price
For most entries on established coins, 5-10% is reasonable. For new launches or fast pumps, you may need higher, but know you're paying for speed.
Don't buy your full position at once unless you're extremely confident.
Common approach:
50% on initial entry
25% if it dips and holds
25% if strength confirms
This way you're not all-in at the worst price if it pulls back right after you buy.
Most trading platforms let you set buy/sell presets (0.5 SOL, 1 SOL, etc.).
Set these up before you need them. When things move fast, you don't want to be typing numbers manually.
Position sizing
Size based on risk, not excitement.
If unsure, go smaller
Let the trade prove itself before adding
Consistency matters more than swinging big on one entry
This is covered in depth in Common Mistakes, but the short version: your size should be small enough that you can think clearly if it moves against you.
Small entries keep you alive long enough to improve.
Don't copy blindly
Seeing someone else buy doesn't mean you should.
You don't know their exit plan, their size, or their risk tolerance. Without that context, you're not copying a trade. You're copying a entry with none of the logic behind it.
If you're going to follow someone's plays, at least understand why they're in it before you ape.
Going deeper
Professionals decide whether to trade at all before deciding how to enter. That filtering process is explained in: Adapting to Market Conditions
If your entry is intentional instead of impulsive, you've already improved your odds.