---
title: How do customers subscribe to my Telegram bot?
description: "Telegram puts the customer in control: you can only message someone who has **started a chat with your bot first**. Every contact in your Inbox and in the Send Telegram recipient list got there by messaging you. ## The two…"
url: "https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-customers-subscribe-to-my-telegram-bot/"
updated: "2026-11-02"
category: Telegram Messaging / Getting Started
---

# How do customers subscribe to my Telegram bot?

Telegram puts the customer in control: you can only message someone who has **started a chat with your bot first**. Every contact in your Inbox and in the Send Telegram recipient list got there by messaging you.

## The two ways in

- **QR code.** Your **Telegram Bot Setup** page shows a QR code for your bot. Scanning it opens the chat in Telegram.
- **t.me link.** Your bot has a link in the form `https://t.me/yourbothandle`. Anyone who opens it lands in the chat with a Start button.

## Where to put them

1. On your website, in the header, footer or contact page.
2. In your SMS and email footers, so existing customers can switch channel.
3. On invoices, packaging and in-store signage, as a QR code.
4. In your WhatsApp or SMS auto-replies, as an alternative support route.

## Good practice

- **Say what they'll get.** "Order updates and support on Telegram" sets the expectation better than "Chat with us".
- **Reply quickly to the first message.** A bot that never answers loses the subscriber.
- **Keep your own opt-in record** for marketing, and honour opt-outs. A customer who blocks your bot can't be reached again.

## What you cannot do

You cannot upload a list of phone numbers and message them on Telegram, as you would with SMS. Phone-number sending works only where the person is already reachable through your bot. For cold outreach, use SMS or RCS and invite people to your bot from there.

### More Related Articles

- [How do I track Telegram delivery and performance?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-i-track-telegram-delivery-and-performance/)
- [How do I create and use Telegram templates?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-i-create-and-use-telegram-templates/)
- [How do I read and reply to customer messages on Telegram?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/how-do-i-read-and-reply-to-customer-messages-on-telegram/)

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