Different Types of Forex Traders and How to Reach Them

    June 25, 2025

    If you’re a Forex CPA Affiliate, IB (Introducing Broker), CPA, or Hybrid Partner, it’s vital to know the different and main types of forex traders.

    This knowledge is the base of a successful forex affiliate strategy. With Metatrader 4 and 5 platforms leading the market, there are many opportunities. However, you need to find the right trader at the right time.

    In this guide, we’ll explain the main trader profiles you’ll meet, attract, and engage for your effective marketing. I’ll show you how to find them and give tips to grow a successful forex affiliate business.

    Knowing the Different Types of Forex Traders

    Why is it important to know the “types of forex traders”? It’s simple: each type uses different tools, has unique habits, and responds to specific marketing tactics.

    This information allows you to tailor your approach, improve engagement, and boost your commissions. The more you personalise your strategies, the better you’ll connect with your audience.

    Table 1: Snapshot of the Most Common Types of Forex Traders

    Trader TypeTypical TimeframeRisk AppetitePlatform PreferenceMain Goal
    ScalperSeconds to minutesHighMetaTrader 4/5Quick profits
    Day TraderIntradayMedium-HighMetaTrader 4/5Daily returns
    Swing TraderSeveral days to weeksMediumMetaTrader 4/5Catch bigger moves
    Position TraderWeeks to monthsLow-MediumMetaTrader 4/5Long-term gains
    Algorithmic TraderAutomated (all timeframes)VariesMetaTrader 5, cTraderMaximise automation
    Social TraderCopy-trading platformsMediumMT4/5+Social pluginsFollow experienced pros

    Types of Forex Traders Explained

    1. Scalpers – The Fast and the Furious

    Scalpers are the most active in forex trading. They open dozens of trades daily. They look for small price changes, aiming to make quick profits.

    They need fast and reliable platforms. MT4/5 is best for its speed and liquidity.

    Pro-tip: Show how fast your platform is. Scalpers trust data.

    2. Day Traders – Intraday Opportunity Seekers

    Day traders close all trades by the end of the day. They look for quick wins on short-term charts. MetaTrader 4 & 5 is their go-to for its features.

    They aim for 20–100 pips per trade.

    Actionable Tip: Offer educational webinars on pattern recognition and risk management. Day traders flock to brands that nurture their skills with fresh content and technical insights.

    3. Swing Traders – The Patient Strategists

    Swing traders are in between action and patience. They hold trades for days to weeks. They aim for 100–500 pips.

    Example: A swing trader can make $9,000 in a month with three winning trades.

    Pro-tip: Provide detailed market analysis and trade ideas. These traders dig deeper; your content and tool recommendations can keep them loyal.

    4. Position Traders – The Long View Investors

    Position traders hold trades for weeks or months. They focus on fundamental analysis and macroeconomic trends. They aim for 500+ pips.

    Actionable Step: Partner with economic news platforms or offer integrations. In addition, demonstrate your broker’s access to robust research tools.

    For example:

    TradingView: Offers advanced charting tools and market data. These can be integrated with your brokerage platform. This gives you better technical analysis capabilities.

    5. Algorithmic & Automated Traders

    Algorithmic traders use code and bots to execute trades automatically. MetaTrader 5 is popular for its algorithmic trading. They need API access, low latency, and uptime reliability.

    Quick Calculation: An algorithmic trader can make $2400 in profits per year. This is scalable across multiple accounts.

    Pro-tip: Host coding competitions or provide ready-to-use, popular EAs for users to test on demo accounts.

    6. Social Traders – The Followers

    Social traders follow, copy, or mirror others’ trades. They use platforms with social trading plugins. Many are beginners seeking simplicity; others want to diversify.

    Actionable Tip: Spotlight top signal providers and showcase social trading success stories to build trust.

    How to Reach the Various Types of Forex Traders

    Marketing Approaches for Each Trader Segment

    Here’s how to approach the outreach for each major type of forex trader:

    • Scalpers: Run ads featuring tight spreads and brokerage execution speeds. Use charts comparing your broker’s latency to top competitors.

    • Day Traders: Webinars, free trading tools (Autochartist), and daily market commentaries attract and educate. Leverage testimonials from successful day traders.

    • Swing & Position Traders: Offer in-depth market outlooks, long-term strategy ebooks, and access to professional research. Engage with them on trading forums and premium content platforms.

    • Algorithmic/Automated Traders: Focus on advanced platform features, coding resources, and partnerships with tech education sites. Highlight exclusive algorithm contests and bonuses for automation users.

    • Social Traders: Create “Top 10 Signal Providers” leaderboards and run campaigns about verified performance. Use video case studies highlighting real followers’ results.

    Table 2: Affiliate Offers Matched to Types of Forex Traders

    Trader TypeMost Effective Offer TypeContent Angle
    ScalperCPA or Hybrid – volume-based payoutsSpeed & spread savings
    Day TraderHybrid – balance of CPA and lots tradedDaily payout examples
    Swing/PositionRevenue Share – higher volumes, longerCompounding profits
    AlgorithmicCPA or Rev Share – high frequency/largeCoding competitions
    SocialRevenue Share – large follower basesTrust/copy trading ROI

    Action Plan – Step-by-Step Guide to Start, Manage and Profit from Forex Affiliate Business

    (A) Starting Out – Focus on Trader Types

    1. Research the Audience: Find out which “types of forex traders” are most active on your chosen broker’s platform. MT4, MT5 and cTrader offer user demographics.

    1. Use surveys or data from affiliate managers: Example: 60% of registrants may be day traders.

    1. Choose the Right Partnership Model: Weigh CPA, Hybrid, and Rev Share based on trader type. Scalpers usually deliver high volume; newbies behind social trading may bring more loyal, sticky business over time.

    1. Create Content for Each Trader Type: Write guides, shoot videos or craft emails targeting the problems or goals of each segment. For example, “How to Become a Successful Forex Scalper on MT4” or “Why Position Traders Prefer Automated Economic Analysis.”

    Leverage Tracking and Analytics: Use UTM tags, custom landing pages, and broker analytics to refine your targeting. Test, tweak and scale.

    (B) Managing – Conversion, Retention & Growth

    1. Onboarding: Customise emails for each trader type. E.g., send algorithmic traders EA setup tips, while swing traders get market outlooks.

    1. Ongoing Nurture: Run monthly competitions for day traders, webinars for position traders, or copy trading leaderboards to engage social traders.

    1. Referral Programmes: Let your existing traders bring their friends or followers. Turbocharge with bonuses per referral.

    (C) Profiting – Maximise Long-Term Rewards

    1. Optimise Offers: Change between CPA, hybrid, and revenue share promotions based on campaign data. Some trader types are more active in certain seasons (e.g., more scalping in volatile months).

    1. Focus on High-Lifetime Value Traders: Encourage algorithmic and swing traders to increase their position size or diversify their accounts.

    1. Expand Regionally: Explore new Forex hotspots – like Asia and Africa, which saw a roughly 17% rise in new trading accounts in Q1 2025. Offer local incentives and partner with regional trading communities.

    Key Statistics – Types of Forex Traders by Proportion (2025)

    Type of Forex TraderEstimated Market Share (%)
    Scalpers12%
    Day Traders31%
    Swing Traders26%
    Position Traders8%
    Algorithmic Traders15%
    Social Traders8%

    Data source: Random Industry broker reports and user surveys, 2025.

    Note: These percentages are estimates and can vary based on different factors such as geographic region, market conditions, and the specific methodologies used in surveys.

    Unlock Growth By Understanding the Types of Forex Traders

    Knowing the different types of forex traders is crucial for growth. It helps in achieving better conversions, keeping traders longer, and making more profits. Every trader is unique.

    Therefore, customise your content, offers, and support to match their needs for business growth.

    Looking to attract more traders and increase your profits? Partner with VT Affiliates, a leading and licensed MetaTrader 4 & 5 broker.

    With VT Affiliates, you can earn high commissions through Forex CPA, Hybrid Partner, or IB programmes with top-tier payouts and expert marketing support. Start today and turn your referrals into a steady income stream with a trusted broker.

    • 400,000+

      Active clients

    • US$300 Billion+

      Trading volume per month

    • 30 Million+

      Trades per month

    Why Partner with VT Markets?

    • Advanced IB & CPA portal

      Our advanced, and next-generation Forex affiliate portals give you access to numerous digital assets, including detailed performance charting, live and complete performance reporting, and more.

    • Rapid commission processing

      Earn commissions by introducing new business to VT Markets based on trading volume or funded accounts. You sign up, refer a client and get your commission within a few days.

    • Safe & secure platform

      We take security very seriously. We are regulated by multiple authorities to comply with the law and provide our clients with a safe and transparent forex trading environment.

    • High-conversion rates

      As a well-known and world-leading broker, VT Markets guarantees high-conversion rates. The more traffic you bring, the more you will make.

    Start trading with VT Affiliates today

    • 1

      Sign up

      Register through our website. We’ll help you choose the Forex affiliate deal that suits you best.
    • 2

      Refer your client

      Use your unique link to bring clients on board.
    • 3

      Start earning

      Earn Forex CPA commission or rebate for each client you refer and ongoing rebates for every trade they make.