How to advertise on Telegram in the USA: a complete guide
With digital advertising becoming increasingly competitive, businesses in the USA are turning to alternative platforms to capture their audience’s attention. Telegram, a privacy-focused messaging app with over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, has emerged as a game-changer for marketers.
In the USA alone, Telegram boasts millions of active users, offering brands a unique opportunity to engage with niche, highly engaged communities. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to advertise on Telegram in the USA.
Before diving into the mechanics, let’s explore why Telegram deserves a spot in your marketing strategy.
1. Growing and Engaged User Base
As of 2025, Telegram’s global user base is approaching 1 billion, with an estimated 40-50 million users in the USA. These users are highly active, spending an average of 30-40 minutes daily on the app, engaging in channels, groups, chat-bots and mini-apps.
2. Niche Communities for Precision Targeting
Telegram’s ecosystem thrives on channels and groups dedicated to specific interests—think cryptocurrency, fitness, politics, gaming, or even local city-based communities. For example, a fitness brand can target channels like “USA Fitness Hub” (50,000+ subscribers), while a fintech startup can advertise in groups like “Wall Street Bets Telegram” (100,000+ members). This granularity allows advertisers to reach audiences with laser precision, reducing wasted impressions and boosting conversions.
3. Diverse Ad Formats
Telegram supports multiple advertising methods, from official Sponsored Messages in channels, bots and miniapps, contextual advertising in search results to direct collaborations with channel and bot admins. Whether you want text-based ads, or native posts with photos and videos, Telegram offers flexibility to match your campaign goals, whether it’s brand awareness, lead generation, or app installs.
4. Cost-Effective and Scalable
Compared to Google Ads or Facebook Ads, Telegram advertising can be significantly cheaper. Sponsored Messages start at 0.1 Toncoin per 1,000 impressions (0.29 USD),
5. Mini-App Ecosystem
Telegram’s mini-apps, like tap-to-earn games or shopping bots, are gaining traction in the USA. These apps allow brands to integrate ads seamlessly, creating interactive experiences. For instance, a gaming brand can advertise within a popular Telegram game like “Hamster Kombat,” reaching millions of players with engaging banners.
Telegram’s Advertising Options: A Deep Dive
To maximize your campaign’s impact, you need to understand Telegram’s advertising ecosystem. Here’s a detailed look at the available methods.
1. Telegram Sponsored Messages
Telegram’s official ad platform, accessible via ads.telegram.org, allows businesses to display Sponsored Messages in public channels with 1,000+ subscribers. These ads are:
Text-Based: Limited to 160 characters, with a link to a Telegram channel, group, or bot.
Targeted: Based on channel topics (e.g., sports, finance), language (English for the USA), and inferred user interests.
Cost: Priced on a Cost-Per-Mille (CPM) basis, starting at 0.1 Toncoin. Higher CPMs (e.g., 0.5 Toncoin) ensure priority placement.
Moderated: Ads must comply with Telegram’s policies, prohibiting profanity, misleading claims, or graphic content.
Example: A crypto exchange could run an ad saying, “Trade Bitcoin with zero fees! Join now!” linking to their Telegram channel.
If you are planning to launch advertising of American companies to other countries, you may also be interested in the capabilities of the Euro-cabinet of Telegram Ads.
It has more features than the Ton-cabinet available in the USA. The Euro-cabinet allows you to pay for advertising campaigns in fiat currency (euro). It also allows you to launch traffic to external links (landings), add graphic banners to ads and even videos.
Recently, Telegram Ads also introduced contextual advertising in the search bar. It allows you to recommend your channel or bot to users when they enter a query relevant to you in the Telegram search bar. The new feature is available in both Ton and Euro-cabinet.
3. Direct Channel Collaborations
Partnering with channel admins allows for native, authentic advertising. Options include:
Sponsored Posts: A promotional message posted as regular content.
Pinned Messages: Ads fixed at the top of a channel for visibility.
Shoutouts: Mentions in posts or stories to drive traffic.
Costs vary widely—$10 for a small channel to $5,000 or even more for a mega-channel . The cost also depends heavily on the channel's subject matter. Usually, the cheapest advertising is offered by channels dedicated to humor. While the highest cost of advertising posts is traditionally noted in channels on business topics.
Engagement rates are typically higher than Sponsored Messages, with CTRs of 2-5% for well-crafted posts.
4. Telegram Bots for Advertising
Telegram users actively use chatbots or miniapps. The audience of popular bots can be even higher than that of large Telegram channels. At the same time, advertising in chatbots is usually 30-50% cheaper than in Telegram channels. Channel admins often offer package deals, giving a good discount for simultaneous advertising in both the channel and the chatbot, which can be quite profitable.
There are two types of advertising in chatbots.
Sending your advertising message to active subscribers (this method resembles advertising in e-mail newsletters)
Integrating your product into the chatbot interface. Traditional mechanics are when, in order to perform some action, the bot first requires subscribing to your channel, then checks the subscription, and only then performs its function)
5. Mini-App Advertising
Telegram’s mini-apps, accessible via bots or channels, are a goldmine for advertisers. Popular in the USA for gaming (e.g., “Catizen”) and productivity, these apps support:
You can buy such advertising directly from the authors of the web app. There are also third-party advertising exchanges that allow you to automate this process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Telegram Ad Campaign in the USA
Follow these detailed steps to create and optimize a Telegram advertising campaign tailored to the American market.
Step 1: Define Clear Objectives and Audience
Start by outlining your campaign goals:
Brand Awareness: Increase visibility for a new product.
Traffic: Drive users to a chat-bot or a Telegram channel.
Conversions: Generate app installs, sign-ups, or purchases.
Engagement: Grow your Telegram channel or group.
Next, build a detailed audience persona:
Demographics: Age (e.g., 18-34 for gaming ads, 35-54 for finance), gender, income level.
Location: Target specific states (e.g., California for tech, Nevada for gambling) or urban vs. rural areas.
Behavior: Are they active in groups (interactive) or channels (passive consumers)?
Example: A betting app targets males aged 25-40 in sports-heavy states like Texas, interested in NFL and NBA, who engage in betting channels.
Step 2: Choose the Optimal Advertising Method
Select the method that aligns with your goals and budget:
Sponsored Messages: Best for broad reach and brand awareness (e.g., launching a new app).
Channel Collaborations: Perfect for authentic engagement with niche audiences (e.g., fitness products).
Bots/Mini-Apps: Great for interactive or transactional campaigns (e.g., e-commerce).
Step 3. (If you choose to advertise by purchasing promo posts in channels or chatbots)
Find relevant Telegram channels that your target audience reads. To do this, you can use the search inside Telegram, the "similar channels" section, Telegram channel catalog sites, or exchanges for buying advertising from bloggers.
Contact the owners of the selected blogs and agree on the terms of posting your promo post.
If you work through exchanges, this process can be simplified and automated. However, be prepared to pay a commission to the platform.
Step 4. Contact an advertising agency that runs targeted Telegram Ads
The best way to launch an advertising campaign in Telegram Ads is to contact professionals. They will take on the full cycle of work - from setting up an advertising account to writing creatives, testing the target audience, collecting statistics, and so on.
Leave your request here, and we’ll answer all your questions in detail while helping you launch your promotion quickly and effectively!
However, if you wish, you can launch advertising in Telegram Ads yourself. Below in this article we will tell you how to set up your advertising account.
Step 5: Set Up Your Ad Account
Go to ads.telegram.org and log in with your Telegram account.
Create an account type (personal or organization).
Buy Toncoin via credit card, crypto exchange (e.g., Binance), or P2P markets.
Transfer Toncoin to your ad balance.
Verify your account to unlock higher budgets.
Step 4: Craft High-Converting Ad Creatives
Your ad’s success depends on its ability to stand out. Follow these guidelines:
Sponsored Messages:
Keep it concise (160 characters): “Join the #1 crypto trading group in the USA! Free tips daily.”
Highlight benefits: “Save 50% on fitness gear!” or “Win big with expert NFL picks!”
Use strong CTAs: “Claim Now,” “Start Free”, “Join Today.”
A/B Testing:
Test 5-10 variants of advertising creatives and audience selections
Use tools like SplitSignal to analyze which creatives drive higher CTR.
Example: A casino ad tests two banners to the same audience: one with “Spin Free & Win!” (1.8% CTR) and another with “$100 Bonus Awaits!” (2.3% CTR), choosing the latter for scaling.
Step 5: Configure Precise Targeting
Effective targeting ensures your ad reaches the right Americans:
Telegram Sponsored Messages:
Language: Choose English (USA-specific).
Interests: Target users based on their channel subscriptions (e.g., crypto enthusiasts).
Third-Party Networks:
Step 6: Set Budget and Bidding Strategy
Sponsored Messages:
Start with a CPM of 0.1 Toncoin). Increase to 0.3-0.5 Toncoin for competitive niches like betting or crypto. The minimum CPM should be the point at which you start getting impressions in a volume that satisfies you.
Set a daily budget to control spending.
Step 7: Launch, Monitor, and Optimize
Launch:
Submit ads for moderation
Ensure links work and tracking is enabled
Monitor:
Use Telegram’s analytics for impressions, clicks, and CTR.
Key metrics: CTR, CPA, ROMI
Optimize:
Shift budget to top-performing channels or creatives.
Test new formats (e.g., move from Sponsored Messages to mini-app ads).
Cross-promote with other platforms (e.g., drive Instagram followers to your Telegram channel).
Build your own Telegram channel to retarget users with organic content.
Advanced Strategies for Telegram Advertising in the USA
To stay ahead of the competition, adopt these advanced tactics:
1. Leverage USA-Specific Trends
Align campaigns with cultural moments:’
Super Bowl (February): Promote betting or snack brands in sports channels.
Black Friday (November): Offer e-commerce deals with urgency (“24 hours only!”).
Tax Season (March-April): Advertise financial tools like tax software or investment apps.
4th of July: Highlight patriotic themes for retail or travel ads.
Example: A travel agency runs a July 4th ad, “Explore the USA with 20% off flights!” in travel channels, achieving a 3% CTR.
2. Optimize for High-Value Niches
Focus on niches with strong Telegram traction in the USA:
Betting/Gambling: Target NFL, NBA, or MLB fans with offers like “$50 free bets.” Legal in 38 states as of 2025.
Finance/Crypto: Promote trading platforms or wallets in channels like “Crypto Signals USA” (200,000 subscribers).
Fitness/Health: Advertise supplements or apps in groups like “FitLife America” (30,000 members).
Gaming: Use mini-app ads for in-game rewards, targeting “Gamers USA” (100,000 subscribers).
Example: A betting app targets Nevada users in “Sports Bet USA,” achieving a 10% CR for new deposits.
3. Use Bots for Automation
Deploy bots to:
Send personalized offers (e.g., “Hi John, claim your 10% discount!”).
Collect user data (e.g., email via quizzes).
Process payments within Telegram (e.g., Stripe integration).
Tool: Use BotFather (@BotFather) to create custom bots, or hire developers on Upwork for advanced features ($50-$500).
4. Track Competitors
Use tools like Telemetr.me to monitor competitors’ Telegram channels and ad posts. Analyze their creatives, posting frequency, and engagement to refine your strategy.
Example: A crypto app notices a competitor’s “Free $10 BTC” ad performs well, so they launch a “$15 BTC bonus” campaign, outperforming by 20%.
Conclusion: Your Path to Telegram Advertising Success
Telegram is a goldmine for businesses looking to tap into the USA’s dynamic digital market. With its engaged audience, niche communities, and affordable ad formats, the platform offers unparalleled opportunities to drive traffic, conversions, and brand loyalty. By defining clear goals, choosing the right advertising method, and optimizing with data-driven insights, you can unlock Telegram’s full potential.
Ready to kick off your campaign on Telegram? Leave your request here, and we’ll answer all your questions in detail while helping you launch your promotion quickly and effectively!