For anyone aiming to build a Telegram channel or manage an existing one, understanding the nuances matters. This guide highlights practical steps to add a chat, set up a moderation assistant, and implement a feedback bot. It offers several straightforward methods to accomplish these tasks without heavy coding.
A moderation bot for Telegram can automatically remove spam, ban content that violates rules, or address messages that breach the community guidelines. The approach doesn’t require developing a bot from scratch; a ready-made bot can be customized to fit the channel’s needs.
A feedback bot gives subscribers a direct line to the channel team, enabling questions and comments. Like the moderation bot, it can be built using a preexisting solution and configured to handle user messages without additional programming with the Telegram API.
How to create a channel in Telegram
Setting up a personal Telegram channel is simple. On a smartphone or a desktop app, open the menu (three horizontal lines in the upper left) and choose “Create channel” from the options.
Next, provide a channel name and, if desired, a description, and upload a profile photo. The following choice determines visibility: select “Private Channel” for a small group or organization, or choose “Public Channel” so it can appear in search results. A direct link can also be added for easy sharing.
How to add a chat to a Telegram channel
After the channel is created, publications can be shared, but comments from subscribers are not yet enabled. To enable discussion, link a chat to the channel by creating a group and connecting it in the channel settings. Telegram now allows a group to be bound directly as the channel’s discussion space.
- Open the channel.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select “Channel management.”
- Find the “Discussion” setting and choose “Add group.”
If there is an unused group, it can be linked immediately. Otherwise, a new group can be created with a few clicks after tapping “Add group.”
From this point, channel members can comment on any post. All comments appear in the linked group automatically. The group can be left private or made public so that it is searchable and joinable. If comments should be limited to channel discussions, keeping the group private is sufficient.
How to create a bot in Telegram. Where to get an API token?
Telegram bots are created via a dedicated bot named BotFather. Search for @BotFather and start the interaction, then follow these steps:
- Open the Menu and select “/new bot.”
- Choose a bot name (you can change it later with /setname).
- Confirm a username that ends with _bot or similar, for example botstgpo_bot.
After setup, BotFather provides an API token. Keep this token secure to avoid losing access.
How to add a chat moderator bot
With a channel, a group, and a bot, a moderator bot can help maintain order and reduce spam. Key capabilities include:
- Emoji-based captcha that humans can pass but bots cannot;
- Moderation filters;
- Anti-flood controls;
- Option to report problematic messages;
- Shortcuts for admins;
- Diary or log integration;
- Blocking of links, certain stickers, reposts, and group-level postings;
- Support for multiple languages.
To add a chatbot, follow these steps:
- Access the bot at @sokolov_robot and choose “Chatbots,” then “Create a new bot.”
- Select the target language for responses in the group.
- If a new bot is needed, create it (as described above), copy the API token, and share it with the bot @sokolov_robot.
- Add the bot to a group with administrative rights to manage the group profile, delete messages, block members, and add new members.
Note: avoid linking bots that are already used by other services.
With the bot in place, it can be configured to suit the channel’s needs.
How to set up a chatbot. How to enable captcha, filters and logs
Bot commands control moderation actions and settings. Common controls include:
- /ban — permanently block the user and delete the message;
- /unban — lift the ban on the user;
- /stupid — mute the user in the chat;
- /spam — block the user and remove recent messages.
To apply temporary penalties, extra parameters can be appended to commands, indicating the duration. For instance, 5 days can be set with a specific syntax, and a user ID can substitute a nickname if known. The reporting feature enables users to forward a violator’s message to administrators, and the bot can be configured to delete the report immediately.
How to enable captcha
- Open @sokolov_robot, go to “Chatbots.”
- Choose “Edit bots” and pick the connected bot.
- Open “Bot settings.”
- Select the tab CAPTURE and switch on “Enable captcha.”
This area lets admins set the required time to complete the captcha, the number of allowed attempts, and the block duration after a failed attempt. If the captcha is not passed, the user will be blocked until manually unblocked.
How to set filters
Built-in filters help prevent unwanted content from appearing in a group. Turn on media anti-flood in the bot settings and configure the parameters. Examples of restrictions include:
- Messages with stickers;
- Images without text;
- Animated images without text;
- Posts with links (exceptions can be added);
- Messages with gaming emojis;
- Posts reposted from other channels;
- Messages with stickers from certain packs;
- Obscene language;
- Messages containing Arabic characters.
How to create a feedback bot
Adding a chat and a feedback bot makes a Telegram channel more interactive and user-friendly. The feedback bot streamlines communication by forwarding user messages to the team, and can even route messages to a dedicated group for follow-up.
- Anonymous communication via the bot;
- Blocking unwanted contacts;
- Multilingual support;
- A separate group for feedback;
- Full Telegram sender information at hand.
Steps to create a feedback bot:
- Open the bot at @sokolov_robot and choose “Create a new bot.”
- Proceed with the creation steps.
- If a free bot exists, provide its API token and avoid using bots tied to other services.
- Configure the bot to suit goals.
After setup, all incoming messages can be forwarded to a chosen group. The bot can be added to that group first to ensure proper routing.
Common commands for the feedback bot include:
- /ban — block the sender;
- /unban — unblock the sender;
- /getuser — retrieve sender information from Telegram.
This guide offers practical, no-code methods to empower Telegram communities with moderation and feedback capabilities, helping teams manage conversations effectively and learn from subscriber input.