How to Create a Paid Telegram Channel or Group

Telegram is a messaging platform for desktop and mobile, primarily focusing on speed and privacy. Telegram was founded in 2013 by two brothers and is now one of the most popular messaging apps globally and among the top 5 most popular social media apps, with over one billion users worldwide. With Telegram, you can create channels/groups that can be used in many ways, whether simply talking to your friends or adding bots to make it more of a community.

While Telegram is frequently used for average daily communication, there is also a big market for paid groups/communities with something to offer. In 2020, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, stated that over ten million channels had been founded on the platform and that over one hundred thousand new groups are being created daily. Many of these groups will be providing a service to people for money - usually following a subscription model, which you can do, too, thanks to Whop!

Telegram vs. Discord

While Telegram and Discord are both popular options for creating paid gated communities, they cater to different demographics and use cases. Deciding between the two platforms depends on your needs. If speed and privacy are important, Telegram is a clear winner over Discord. If you run a larger community and want to split your group into multiple channels, Discord may be a better option. However, saying this, Telegram supports groups with sizes up to 200,000 members, whereas Discord requires you to apply for more member slots once you reach 10,000 - something to keep in mind.

We’ve compiled a short list of pros and cons for both Telegram and Discord to help you decide which is best for you:

✅Pros:

Lightweight and fast, it performs well even on slow internet connections or older devices.
Strong emphasis on user privacy and security, including self-destructing messages and end-to-end encryption in chats.
Allows large groups (up to 200,000 members) and channels to cater to larger communities.

❌ Cons:

Lacks some community features, such as voice channels, member roles, stages, etc., compared to Discord.
Limited tools for moderation and community management.

Discord

✅Pros:

Provides many community-focused features, including multiple text channels, stages, roles, etc.
Highly customizable with bots, permissions, and various integrations with other platforms and services.
Boasts a beautiful and customizable user interface, even offering themes (for those with a paid Discord Nitro subscription).

❌ Cons:

Less lightweight than Telegram, requiring more resources and data usage.
Discord's privacy and security measures are nowhere near as solid as Telegram’s.
The maximum number of members in a server is lower, 250,000, and that’s only if you are accepted after you apply.
The notification system can be tedious and can easily result in spam.

Whichever platform you choose, we’re confident you can create a healthy, active community that you can easily monetize with Whop. If you believe Discord may be a better fit for you, check out our article “How To Create A Paid Discord Server.”

Telegram Groups vs. Telegram Channels: Which Should You Choose?

Telegram has a unique selection when it comes to creating a community. You can opt to create either a group or a channel, but what’s the difference? A group is precisely what it sounds like - a place where individuals can chat back and forth, share images, etc. A channel, however, is quite different. Only admins can send messages in a channel; other members can react and reply.

Groups are ideal for smaller communities where discussion is key. Small, tight-knit communities benefit most from a group as groups allow for in-depth discussions where everyone can express themselves. As you might’ve already picked up, groups tend to be much more intimate than channels, as everyone can contribute, which is excellent for building a true community. Some examples of when you may want to use a group over a channel include an F&F (Friends & Family) community, coaching, and many other things that involve discussion.

If your goal is primarily to broadcast information to many individuals, a channel is perfect for you. Paired with Telegram’s extremely reliable notification system, a channel is a fantastic way of alerting members as soon as you send a message. Some examples of when you may want to use a channel over a group include sports betting picks, stock picks, announcements, changelogs, etc.

Integrating With Whop

Integrating Whop into your Telegram channel or group couldn’t be easier and can be done in just five simple steps.

Step 1: Create a product on Whop. Give this product an appropriate name and tweak it to your liking.

Step 2: Add the “Telegram” experience to the product. Simply click the ‘Telegram” button with the Telegram icon on it.

Step 3: Click “Add channel,” then you’ll be redirected to a page containing the next steps.

Step 4: Add “Whop Bot” to the group/channel. If you are a bit lost on how to do this, simply follow the short video guides on the same page.

Step 5: Click “Generate code” and enter the code into the group/channel. Whop Bot will see this and set everything up on your dashboard as quickly as possible.

And that’s it; you’re done! People who purchase your product can now join your private group/community via Whop on their dashboard. How easy was that?!

What’s Next?

Now that your Telegram community is set up and integrated with Whop, you’re almost ready to become a trillionaire. Before you do anything else, set up a payment method with Whop so you can receive payments for your product. Whop currently supports Stripe (debit/credit card payments), Crypto, and PayPal. You can link a payment method here, and it’ll be set up in no time.

Now you’re ready to sell - how exciting. Ensure your product page looks appealing and as descriptive as you deem fit. Now that that’s done, you should look to promote your community. There are many ways to promote such a product, and the way(s) you choose depends on your niche and overall needs. Take some time to research these and consider using multiple promotion strategies to increase the likelihood of obtaining new customers.

Whop’s affiliate scheme is an excellent way of attracting new community members via your existing members. Whop’s affiliate scheme allows community members to recommend your product to others and turn a profit. This is an awesome strategy that everyone benefits from and can help boost sales. You can view Whop’s documentation for more info on affiliate marketing here.

This may go without saying, but always focus on improving your product! Monitor and analyze all aspects of your community (e.g., when it’s most active, what people like, which promotion strategies are most effective, etc.) and improve areas that appear lacking. Also, ensure that your community is active, as there’s nothing less appealing than an inactive community. To keep your community active, engage with members and take in all feedback given so you can improve.

Conclusion

That’s all it takes to create a paid telegram community with the help of Whop - as easy as pressing a few buttons. Now that you’re all set up and your Telegram group/channel is ready, get out there and start selling! If you have any further questions regarding Telegram monetization via Whop, check out our Telegram docs, and if you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us directly.

👉 Ready to create your own Telegram community? Head to our Telegram landing page to read more about Whop and start selling. The two minutes it takes to sign up could be the start of a new successful career, so what are you waiting for?

Article reviewed and checked for accuracy on 09/16/2023 by Colin McDermott