How to promote a Telegram bot in 2026: where to get real users
A bot without users is just code. Telegram gives bots few free discovery channels, so most bots grow through a mix of free tactics and paid sources. Here are the ways that bring real users — and how to tell real users from fake ones.
In short. Prepare the bot first (a clear first message, one or two buttons, a reason to come back). Then combine free sources — Telegram search, bot directories, your channel and website, referral rewards — with paid ones: posts in channels, ads in other bots and pay-per-launch. On MGRAM, users of other bots open your bot and press «Start»; you pay from 1 ₽ per counted launch, and launches from farms are never paid.
Prepare the bot
- Name and username with the words people search for: «PDF converter bot» beats «Max's helper».
- Description and about text — what the bot does in one line.
- First message — show the main action right away, one or two buttons.
- A reason to come back — new features, useful notifications, bonuses.
Free ways
- Telegram search. Bots are found by name and username — use a keyword.
- Bot directories and lists. Little traffic, but constant and free.
- Your own channel, website, YouTube. The most loyal users.
- Referral rewards. Users invite friends for a bonus inside the bot — works if the bonus is useful.
- Shareable results. A bot that produces something people forward (a card, a file, a result) promotes itself.
Paid ways
| Source | How you pay | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Posts in channels | Per post | Fake channels, unclear result |
| Telegram Ads | CPM auction | Short text, strict rules |
| Broadcasts in other bots | 0.03 ₽ per delivered message | Needs a good post |
| Paid launches (MGRAM) | from 1 ₽ per counted launch | Lowest: you pay per real start |
How paid launches work
- Create a «Bot / Mini App launches» order in @mgram_robot.
- Send your bot token — only to see who really started the bot; the message is deleted immediately.
- Set your own link with a start parameter (startapp for a Mini App) to see MGRAM users in your analytics.
- Users of other bots see your bot's button, open it and press «Start».
- You are charged per counted launch; nothing is reserved in advance.
Each audience filter (topics, GEO, language, gender, Premium, Stars level, photo, gifts, username) adds 0.10 ₽ per launch. Prices on MGRAM are in Russian rubles (₽); you top up in USDT, TON, via CryptoBot or xRocket, and the bot shows the exact amount before you pay.
Real users vs fake ones
Fake «users» press Start once and never return: no purchases, no ad views, a dying user base. Measure what users do after the start — how many reach the bot's key action within a week — and keep a separate link for each source.
Earn while you grow
Connect the bot to MGRAM as an owner: mandatory subscriptions and tasks pay from the first user — see how to monetize a Telegram bot.