Tips
Telegram Ads in 2026: Complete Guide + Why Direct Outreach Outperforms Paid Advertising
January 6, 2026
Introduction
Telegram has become one of the most powerful advertising platforms in 2026, with the advertising market reaching approximately $10 billion and over 1 billion monthly active users. As businesses rush to capitalize on this opportunity, understanding the full spectrum of Telegram marketing options—from paid ads to direct outreach—has become critical for maximizing ROI.
With Telegram users being 5 times more likely to click on links in messages compared to email campaigns, and channels achieving an average post reach rate of 18% (significantly higher than Instagram), the platform presents unprecedented opportunities for businesses seeking highly engaged audiences.
What Are Telegram Ads?
Telegram Ads is the official advertising platform that allows businesses to run sponsored messages inside the Telegram app, similar to Facebook or Instagram advertising. These ads appear in public channels with over 1,000 subscribers, directly between regular posts, and also show up in Telegram search results and bots with over 1,000 active users.
Key Features of Telegram Ads
Official Ad Format:
Text-based messages limited to 160 characters, with support for emojis, videos, and images
Ads link to Telegram channels, bots, mini apps, or business profiles
Operates on an auction model where ads compete for placement
Placement Options:
Public channels (1,000+ subscribers)
Telegram bots (1,000+ monthly active users)
Telegram Search (contextual advertising)
Mini Apps (emerging format)
Telegram Advertising Formats in 2026
1. Official Telegram Sponsored Ads
The starting CPM (cost per thousand impressions) is set at 0.1 Toncoin (TON), which is approximately $0.34 at current rates. However, minimum budgets typically start at approximately $2,000, making this primarily suitable for established businesses with substantial marketing budgets.
Pros:
Ability to target Premium users and choose between motivated vs. non-motivated users
Can target users with a positive wallet balance
Supports advertising in over a dozen languages, including English, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, and more
Cons:
Initial advertising budget requirement of at least €1,500 plus fees
Text-only format (160 character limit)
Strict content policy, particularly for iGaming and Finance offers
Can only link to Telegram-internal destinations
2. Telegram Mini App Ads
Ads in Telegram mini apps come in multiple formats, including push-style banners, interstitial banners, videos, and embedded banners. They appear in mini apps like clickers and tap-to-earn games without disrupting users.
Pricing is significantly more affordable: push-style ads start from $0.015 per click, interstitial ads from $1.50 per 1,000 clicks, video ads from $3 CPM, and embedded ads from $0.40 CPM.
Key Advantages:
Affiliate-friendly content policy — you can run ads on any vertical without restrictions
Zero blindness format — users aren't familiar with these ads in TMAs, leading to higher CTRs
Can promote external offers and drive traffic to landing pages
Over 500 million Mini App interactions monthly
3. Channel Advertising Through Marketplaces
Platforms like Telega, Followeran, and others connect advertisers with channel owners for direct ad placements.
Telega offers access to over 6,700 manually verified channels, allowing advertisers to filter by follower count, ratings, views, price, CPM, and other metrics.
Pricing varies by channel:
Small channels: $50-200 per post
Medium channels: $200-1,000 per post
Large channels: $1,000-10,000+ per post
4. Direct Telegram Outreach (The CRMChat Approach)
Unlike traditional advertising, direct outreach involves sending personalized messages directly to prospects' Telegram accounts—similar to LinkedIn outreach but on a platform where your audience actually spends their time.
Why This Matters: Telegram messages achieve open rates exceeding 80%, 4 times higher than email marketing. For Web3, crypto, and tech communities, Telegram has become the primary business communication platform, making direct outreach significantly more effective than email-based lead generation.
Key Differences from Ads:
No ad spend required (beyond platform costs)
Direct conversations instead of broadcast messages
Personalized messaging vs. generic ad copy
Higher engagement rates for B2B outreach
No minimum budget requirements
Telegram Ads vs. Direct Outreach: What Works Better?
While Telegram Ads can be effective for brand awareness and B2C campaigns, direct Telegram outreach consistently outperforms paid advertising for B2B lead generation, particularly in Web3, crypto, blockchain, and tech sectors.
Response Rate Comparison
Telegram Ads:
Sponsored messages receive click-through rates (CTR) between 0.9–2.4%
Broadcast nature limits personalization
One-way communication until the prospect engages
Direct Telegram Outreach (CRMChat Method):
Response rates typically 10-25% for well-targeted campaigns
Two-way conversations from the first message
Ability to reference shared communities and interests
No ad fatigue or "sponsored" label resistance
Possibility to contact high-value users with Telegram Premium
Cost Comparison
Telegram Ads:
$2,000+ minimum budget for official ads
CPM model: $0.34-$3+ per 1,000 impressions
Additional agency fees for managed campaigns
Direct Outreach:
CRMChat starting at $40/month
Pay-per-account pricing, not per-message
No per-impression or per-click fees
Scales with your team, not your budget
Targeting Precision
Telegram Ads:
Algorithmic targeting by channel/topic
Limited audience data from Telegram
Broad demographic targeting
Direct Outreach:
Target specific Telegram groups by niche
Parse exact member lists from relevant communities
Research individual prospects before outreach
Reference shared group participation
Why Direct Telegram Outreach Works Better for Web3 & B2B
1. Your Audience Lives on Telegram, Not Email
The Web3, crypto, and blockchain communities have largely migrated from traditional communication channels to Telegram. Email inboxes are crowded; Telegram conversations are where deals actually happen.
Platform Behavior:
Most crypto projects run their communities on Telegram
Industry events create dedicated Telegram groups
Partnerships are initiated through Telegram DMs
Support and community management happen on Telegram
2. Higher Trust Through Community Context
When you reach out on Telegram, you can reference the specific group where you found the prospect. This immediately establishes:
Shared community membership
Relevant context for your message
Credibility through association
Common ground for conversation
Example Outreach Message: "Hi Sarah, I found you in the DeFi Governance group. Based on the recent discussions about voter participation challenges, I thought you'd be interested in our approach to increasing engagement by 3x..."
This level of personalization is impossible with Telegram Ads.
3. No Competition with Ad Fatigue
Telegram keeps the platform clean and user-friendly with minimal ad saturation. Ads are not only more visible but also less likely to be ignored. However, direct messages bypass ad blindness entirely — they appear as personal messages, not sponsored content.
4. Real-Time Relationship Building
Direct outreach enables immediate two-way conversations. Instead of waiting for prospects to click an ad and then reach out, you're starting the relationship directly.
Progressive Engagement:
First message: Introduction with value proposition
Follow-up: Share a relevant case study or resource
Response handling: Answer questions in real-time
Meeting scheduling: Move to call when interest is confirmed
5. Cost Efficiency at Scale
Telegram Ads Cost for 10,000 Targeted Impressions:
Official Telegram Ads: $340-$3,000 (depending on targeting)
Expected responses at 2% CTR: ~200 clicks
Conversion to conversation: ~5-20 actual conversations
Direct Outreach Cost for 10,000 Targeted Messages:
CRMChat cost: $40-500/month (depending on plan & accounts)
Expected responses at 15% response rate: ~500 responses
All responses are actual conversations, not just clicks
Setting Up Direct Telegram Outreach with CRMChat
CRMChat is specifically designed for businesses that want to leverage direct Telegram outreach instead of (or in addition to) traditional advertising.
Step 1: Build Your Prospect Database
Method 1: Telegram Group Parser
Identify relevant Telegram groups in your niche
Use CRMChat's Group Parser to extract member lists
Clean data to extract valid first names
Save as CSV with User ID and First Name columns
Method 2: Sync Existing Conversations
Organize Telegram chats into folders
Sync folders directly into CRMChat
Instantly import all business contacts
Method 3: Manual Addition
Add leads from conferences, events, or referrals
Use QR code scanning for in-person meetings
Forward messages to the CRMChat bot to create leads
Method 4: Send using phone numbers
Find your target audience using external tools (Apollo, Clay, LinkedIn Sales Navigator)
Enrich this data with phone numbers
Send Telegram Outreach Sequences by phone numbers
Step 2: Create Personalized Outreach Sequences
Unlike Telegram Ads' 160-character limit, CRMChat allows you to craft sophisticated multi-message sequences:
Message 1 (Initial Outreach):
Reference where you found them
Lead with value proposition (outcomes, not features)
Keep under 100 words
Include personalization (first name, group reference)
Message 2 (Follow-up after 3-5 days):
Provide social proof or a case study
Address common objections
Clear call-to-action
Message 3 (Final follow-up):
Brief reminder
Last-chance value proposition
Easy exit for non-interested prospects
Step 3: Configure Sending Limits & Account Health
Critical Best Practices:
Start with 5-10 cold messages per account per day
Gradually increase by 2-3 every few days up to a maximum of 20
Purchase Telegram Premium for all outreach accounts
Warm up new accounts for 10-14 days before campaigns
Account Protection:
Distribute volume across multiple accounts
Monitor account health metrics
Use CRMChat's unified inbox to manage all conversations
Step 4: Track, Optimize, and Scale
CRMChat provides comprehensive analytics:
Messages sent, delivered, read
Response rates by template
Account performance tracking
Deal progression through the pipeline
Optimization Process:
Test 2-3 message variations simultaneously
Send each template to 200+ prospects for statistical significance
Track delivery rates, open rates, and response rates
Double down on the highest-performing templates
Best Practices for Telegram Outreach vs. Ads
Profile Optimization (Critical for Both)
Your Telegram profile is your first impression:
Use your real name and a professional photo
Write a compelling bio with position and company
Include the main account username if using multiple accounts
Add a website or LinkedIn for additional credibility
Example Profile: "John Smith, Head of BD at TechCorp. Helping Web3 startups scale through strategic partnerships. Main account: @johnsmith_main"
Message Length: Shorter is Better
Keep initial messages under 100 words (ideally 50-70)
Use short sentences for mobile readability
One clear value proposition per message
Save details for follow-ups after engagement
Why? Telegram's chat-based interface makes long messages feel overwhelming. Users scroll quickly—your message needs to capture attention in seconds.
Lead with Value, Not Features
Instead of: "Hi, I'm from XYZ Company. We offer a comprehensive blockchain analytics platform with 50+ features, including real-time monitoring, portfolio tracking, and advanced reporting..."
Try: "Hi Mark, I found you in the Solana Builders group. We helped 3 similar DeFi projects reduce their monitoring overhead by 80%. Worth a quick chat about your current setup?"
Source Attribution Creates Context
One unique advantage of Telegram outreach over ads:
Reference specific communities where you found prospects
Shows you're part of the same communities they value
Demonstrates research rather than random targeting
Creates immediate common ground
A/B Testing for Continuous Improvement
Test These Variables:
Opening lines: Personal vs. professional tone
Value propositions: Different benefits or outcomes
Call-to-actions: Questions vs. direct requests
Timing: Different days/hours for sending
Group references: Specific vs. general mentions
Framework:
Test 2-3 variations simultaneously
Send each to a minimum of 200 prospects
Track key metrics: delivery, open, response, conversion
Scale winners, kill losers
When to Use Telegram Ads vs. Direct Outreach
Best Use Cases for Telegram Ads
B2C Campaigns:
E-commerce promotions
App downloads
Content creator growth
Gaming user acquisition
Brand Awareness:
Launching new products
Building channel subscribers
Broad market education
Event promotion
Large Budgets:
Enterprise marketing campaigns
Multi-channel advertising strategies
Mass market products
High-volume B2C services
Best Use Cases for Direct Outreach (CRMChat)
B2B Lead Generation:
SaaS sales
Agency services
Consulting offers
Partnership development
Niche Targeting:
Web3 and blockchain projects
Crypto community building
Technical product sales
Specialized B2B services
Relationship-Focused:
High-value deals
Enterprise sales
Strategic partnerships
Community-driven growth
Budget-Conscious:
Startups
Small agencies
Solopreneurs
Testing new markets
Combining Telegram Ads and Direct Outreach
The most sophisticated Telegram marketing strategies use both approaches:
Ads for Top-of-Funnel:
Build brand awareness in target communities
Drive channel/group subscriptions
Create a retargeting audience
Generate initial interest
Direct Outreach for Conversion:
Personalized follow-up to ad engagers
Targeted outreach to specific prospects
Relationship building with warm leads
Deal closing through direct conversations
Example Integrated Strategy:
Run Telegram Ads to grow channel subscribers
Identify engaged community members
Use CRMChat to send personalized outreach
Track conversations through the sales pipeline
Close deals through direct Telegram communication
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Telegram Ads Mistakes
Starting with Maximum Budget
Test small before scaling
Optimize messaging first
Understand your target audience
Ignoring Creative Testing
Test multiple ad variations
Track performance metrics
Iterate based on data
Poor Targeting Selection
Research channels carefully
Analyze channel quality, not just size
Consider audience overlap
Direct Outreach Mistakes
Sending Generic Mass Messages
Always personalize with a name
Reference specific group/context
Tailor the value proposition to the recipient
Being Too Aggressive with Follow-ups
Space messages 3-5 days apart
Respect non-responses
Provide an easy opt-out
Ignoring Platform Limits
Purchase Telegram Premium
Start with low daily limits (5-10)
Warm up accounts properly
Monitor account health
Writing Like Email Marketing
Keep messages conversational
Avoid corporate jargon
Write like a human, not a marketer
Focusing on Features Instead of Benefits
Lead with outcomes
Address specific pain points
Use concrete results/numbers
Cost Analysis: Telegram Ads vs. CRMChat Direct Outreach
Scenario: Reaching 1,000 Qualified Prospects Per Month
Option 1: Telegram Official Ads
Minimum ad spend: $2,000/month
Expected impressions: ~600,000 (at $3.33 CPM)
Expected CTR: 2%
Expected clicks: 12,000
Expected conversations: 120-240 (1-2% of clicks)
Cost per conversation: $8.33-$16.67
Option 2: Channel Marketplace Ads (Telega)
Medium package: $999/month
Expected reach: 78,000 views
Expected engagement: 1-2%
Expected conversations: 780-1,560
Cost per conversation: $0.64-$1.28
Option 3: CRMChat Direct Outreach
CRMChat Team plan: $40/month
Multiple account setup: +$50/month (3 accounts)
Total cost: $90/month
Outreach capacity: 1,500 messages/month (3 accounts × 25 daily limit × 20 working days)
Expected response rate: 15%
Expected conversations: 225
Cost per conversation: $0.40
Advantage: Direct outreach costs 95-98% less per conversation than official Telegram Ads, while generating higher-quality leads through personalization.
Advanced Strategies for 2025
1. Multi-Account Scaling
Strategy:
Maintain 3-5 Telegram accounts for outreach
Distribute volume evenly to avoid restrictions
Use consistent branding across accounts
Reference the main account in secondary profiles
CRMChat Implementation:
Unified inbox for all account conversations
Centralized pipeline tracking
Team collaboration across accounts
Account health monitoring
2. Warm Outreach Through Group Participation
Before Direct Messaging:
Join relevant Telegram groups
Participate genuinely in discussions
Provide valuable insights
Build recognition within the community
Outreach Advantage: "Hi Sarah, we've both been active in the DeFi Governance group. Based on your recent comment about voter participation, I thought our solution might help..."
3. Hybrid Approach: Ads + Outreach
Phase 1 (Months 1-2):
Run a small Telegram Ads campaign
Build channel subscriber base
Identify engaged audience members
Phase 2 (Month 3+):
Parse channel members who engaged with ads
Send personalized outreach referencing ad content
Convert warm leads into conversations
Track ROI compared to the ads-only approach
4. Content-Driven Outreach
Strategy:
Create valuable content (guides, tools, resources)
Share in relevant Telegram groups
Follow up with engaged users via direct message
Reference specific content they interacted with
Example: "Hi Mark, saw you downloaded our DeFi scaling guide from the Solana Builders group. Would love to hear your thoughts and discuss how we've helped similar projects implement these strategies..."
The Future of Telegram Marketing in 2025
Emerging Trends
1. Mini Apps Revolution About half of Telegram's 1 billion monthly active users now interact with Mini Apps, creating a new advertising landscape. Direct outreach will increasingly need to incorporate Mini App interactions.
2. Increased Regulation In 2025, Telegram began actively removing iGaming-related Mini Apps and several countries introduced new restrictions. This makes compliant direct outreach even more valuable compared to ad platforms.
3. Premium User Targeting The ability to target Telegram Premium users who have money on their accounts creates opportunities for high-value B2B outreach.
4. AI-Powered Personalization Future CRM tools will leverage AI to:
Automatically personalize messages based on prospect profiles
Suggest optimal outreach timing
Generate context-aware follow-ups
Predict response likelihood
Why Direct Outreach Will Dominate
As Telegram Ads become more expensive and competitive:
Ad costs will continue rising
Ad fatigue will increase
Platform restrictions will tighten
Direct relationships will become more valuable
The businesses that win will be those that:
Build genuine relationships through personalized outreach
Leverage community participation for warm introductions
Combine systematic processes with human touch
Track and optimize based on real conversation data
Conclusion: Choose Your Telegram Strategy
Telegram Ads and direct Telegram outreach serve different purposes:
Choose Telegram Ads if:
You have $2,000+ monthly ad budget
You're running B2C campaigns
You need mass brand awareness
You're targeting broad audiences
You have established creative/testing processes
Choose Direct Outreach (CRMChat) if:
You're doing B2B lead generation
You need a higher ROI per conversation
You have a limited marketing budget
You operate in Web3, crypto, or tech sectors
You want to build genuine relationships
You need personalized communication at scale
For most B2B companies, especially in Web3 and tech, direct Telegram outreach through CRMChat delivers:
95-98% lower cost per qualified conversation
5-10x higher response rates compared to ads
Higher-quality conversations through personalization
Flexible scaling without minimum budget requirements
Complete pipeline management from first message to closed deal
Get Started with CRMChat
Ready to leverage direct Telegram outreach instead of expensive ads?
What You Get:
Telegram-native CRM for managing all conversations
Group Parser for building targeted prospect lists
Automated outreach sequences with personalization
Multi-account management with unified inbox
Complete analytics and pipeline tracking
Pricing:
Pro Plan: $13/month - Perfect for testing direct outreach
Team Plan: $40/month - Full collaboration and outreach features
Outreach Plan: Custom pricing for enterprise-scale campaigns
Start Your Free Trial: Visit CRMChat.ai to begin building your Telegram outreach system.
Key Takeaways
Telegram Ads are effective for brand awareness, but direct outreach delivers superior ROI for B2B lead generation
Cost comparison: Direct outreach costs $0.40 per conversation vs. $8-17 for Telegram Ads
Response rates: 15-25% for personalized direct outreach vs. 0.9-2.4% CTR for ads
Telegram's unique advantages: 80%+ open rates, 5x higher click rates than email, and it's where Web3/crypto business happens
Best approach for most businesses: Start with direct outreach through CRMChat, add Telegram Ads once you've validated messaging and identified high-value audiences
Critical success factors: Profile optimization, message personalization, respecting platform limits, continuous A/B testing, and systematic follow-up
The future of Telegram marketing belongs to businesses that build genuine relationships through personalized, community-contextualized outreach — not just those with the biggest ad budgets.
