With over a billion active users and growing, Telegram Ads have become a powerful platform for performance marketing—especially for brands looking to target niche and engaged communities. But despite the opportunity, many marketers fall into avoidable traps that limit results and inflate costs.
Whether you’re just getting started or scaling your efforts, here are the 8 most common mistakes brands make while running Telegram ads—and proven strategies to avoid them.
1. Grouping Too Many Channels in One Campaign
A common pitfall is targeting dozens of Telegram channels at once, which makes optimization nearly impossible.
Why it’s a problem:
- You get aggregated data, so you can’t tell which channels perform well and which are wasting your ad spend.
- CPM rates vary significantly, and grouping channels forces you to average out your bid, lowering effectiveness.
- Some channels inflate stats with low-quality traffic—without separate tracking, you’ll never know.
What to do instead:
Set up individual campaigns per channel. This way, you can monitor metrics like CTR, conversion rate, and subscriber retention more precisely and refine your targeting accordingly.
2. Starting With High CPM Bids
Launching your campaign with a high Cost-Per-Mille (CPM) might sound like a shortcut to visibility—but it often leads to overpaying with little ROI.
Recommended Approach:
- Start low (e.g., 0.10 TON) to test performance.
- Increase gradually in 10–20% increments if impressions are low.
- Monitor click and conversion metrics to decide whether to scale, adjust CPM, or pause.
Tip: High impressions with zero conversions or overly high CTRs (e.g., 10%+) may signal suspicious or poor-quality traffic.
3. Ignoring Invite Links for Channel Traffic
Using invite links is essential for tracking ad-driven channel growth.
Benefits include:
- Clear attribution of which channel brought which users.
- Ability to measure user churn (those who leave quickly may not be your audience).
4. Forgetting UTM Tags for Bot Campaigns
If your ad drives traffic to a Telegram bot, you should be adding UTM parameters to the bot’s start command.
Example:
https://t.me/trilokana?start=sourceName
Why it matters:
- Lets you customize the bot’s welcome flow based on where the user came from.
- Helps you track behavior post-click, including website visits or conversions from the bot.
- Enables full-funnel visibility from impression to conversion.
- To know more read this article – https://graspil.com/post/en_utm_for_telegram_bot
5. Not A/B Testing Your Creatives
Telegram may not allow rich media ads (yet), but copy still matters—a lot.
What to test:
- Short vs. long copy (Telegram ads allow up to 160 characters).
- Different CTAs, tones, and emojis.
- Channels: Test 50–100 niche-relevant channels.
- Devices: Compare results on desktop vs. mobile.
A/B testing helps you uncover which message-channel-device combinations work best.
6. Changing Your Channel After Launch
Once your ad goes live, avoid making changes to your Telegram channel like:
- Username or title changes
- Profile picture updates
- Closing or deleting the channel
These changes can trigger re-moderation delays or even ad disapprovals.
Bonus tips for channel performance:
- Maintain a consistent posting schedule.
- Use clear formatting and emojis for better readability.
- Pin your best messages (e.g., offers, instructions, or links).
- Encourage interaction by enabling comments or groups.
7. Violating Telegram’s Ad Policies
Telegram has strict ad moderation guidelines, and violating them will get your ads rejected.
Common violations include:
- Typos or poor grammar
- Excessive use of emojis
- Using terms like “#1,” “Best,” or “Click Now”
- Advertising banned topics (e.g., adult, illegal, misleading content)
- All-caps channel names or irrelevant formatting
Pro tip: Review Telegram Ads Policy before submission to save time and avoid frustration.
8. Ignoring the Power of Self-Promotion
Most brands forget to advertise their own offerings inside their own channels. That’s a missed opportunity.
Why you should run ads in your own channel:
- Protects your space from competitor ads.
- Drives more conversions from users who already trust you.
- Great for announcements, feature launches, or limited-time offers.
Even a small CPM budget directed at your own audience can return outsized ROI. We suggest to run your own ad in your channel to increase engagement and drive more sales.
Final Thoughts: Get More From Telegram Ads
Telegram Ads are a unique and powerful tool—but they require thoughtful execution to drive real results.
Avoid these 8 mistakes, test consistently, track everything, and adapt quickly. If you need help launching, optimizing, or scaling your Telegram campaigns, Trilokana Marketing offers expert Telegram Ads services with a proven track record.
🚀 Need Help Running Profitable Telegram Ads?
Partner with Trilokana Marketing today to:
- ✅ Reach hyper-targeted Telegram audiences
- ✅ Optimize ads for higher ROI
- ✅ Avoid costly beginner mistakes
Are you planning to run Telegram ads, at Trilokana Marketing we can help. Checkout our Manpower Pricing for various services
Are you planning to run Telegram ads, at Trilokana Marketing we can help. Checkout our Manpower Pricing for various services
You can check our Successful Case Study and Blog Articles
Blog Articles
Want to know more about Telegram Ads, Read our latest blog articles on Telegram Advertising.
— Contextual Search Ads Are Now Available in Telegram Ads: A Game-Changer for Marketers – Trilokana Marketing.
— How to get Channel Statistics for Telegram ads – Trilokana Marketing
— Advertising-on-telegram-from-india-a-comprehensive-guide
—What We Learned from a Crypto Display Ad Campaign on CoinMarketCap
—How to Transfer Money to Your Telegram Ads Account from India via TON Wallet
—Top 3 Telegram Ad Spy Tools to Boost Your Campaign Strategy
—8 Telegram Ads Mistakes That Are Costing You Money — And How to Fix Them
—How to Create the Perfect Telegram Channel
—Telegram Hourly Posting Strategy
—Telegram Ads Agency
— Telegram Ads: Understanding the Euro Advertising Cabinet
—How to Generate Car Buyer Leads Using Telegram Ads in India: A Complete Guide
—Why Running Telegram Ads from Your Own Account Is Crucial for Long-Term Growth
—Telegram Mini Apps vs. Bots: Key Differences Explained
—Superprofile vs Rigi: Managing Large Telegram Channels Made Easy
— Telegram Ads Case Study: How We Drove High-Quality Forex Channel Followers at Low CPC
—Telegram Bot Lead Generation Services
—Here’s a categorized list of fields you can collect using a Telegram bot
— Telegram Ads Stars Account: Complete Guide to Setup, Buying Stars, and Running Ads
—Telegram Ads Cabinets in Euros and TON: Targeting Options and Availability