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How do I create a custom Telegram bot and start accepting Telegram Stars as a payment type?
How do I create a custom Telegram bot and start accepting Telegram Stars as a payment type?
Updated over a week ago

Introducing Telegram Stars

Telegram Stars is a virtual currency that users can use to support content creators and purchase digital goods and services within the Telegram ecosystem on Billgang. Just to note, Telegram uses third-party payment processors to facilitate secure and effortless purchases of Telegram Stars.

When you start accepting Telegram Stars as a form of payment on your website, you'll receive these payments straight to your own Telegram account without Billgang holding or processing funds on your behalf.

To get started with accepting Telegram Stars payments on the Billgang platform, you'll first want to create your own Telegram Bot and connect the required details here: https://dash.billgang.com/integrations/telegram-bot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tip: Your business instantly unlocks access to a market of over 400 million customers that actively use the Telegram platform.

Also, Billgang continues to hold its commitment to taking ZERO transaction fees on any payment processed on our platform.

Create Telegram Bot

If you haven't previously created a Telegram bot, you can create your very own secure Telegram bot in a few seconds.

Obtaining a token is as simple as contacting @BotFather, issuing the /newbot command and following the steps until you're given a new token. You can find a step-by-step guide here.

Your token will look something like this (this is not a real token):

4839574812:AAFD39kkdpWt3ywyRZergyOLMaJhac60qc

Once you've created your Telegram Bot and have your token saved, copy and paste your token into the "Token" input field when you tap on "Create Telegram Bot" via the bot builder integration page on the dashboard here: https://dash.billgang.com/integrations/telegram-bot.

Businesses can only disable Billgang branding on our Scale plan. Feel free to upgrade your plan here.

Enable Telegram Stars

Once you've been able to get your Telegram bot connected to the Billgang platform, there isn't much left to begin accepting payments with Telegram Stars.

In fact, the only next step is purely operational and will automatically get you set up. To start accepting payments:

  • visit your payment settings within your business dashboard or tap on https://dash.billgang.com/settings/payments

  • enter your bot username when you're first enabling Telegram Stars

  • select "Enable for all products" to automatically attach Telegram Stars as a payment option

... and that's it! Your custom Telegram bot should now be online and start processing payments with the Billgang platform once you enable Telegram Stars as a payment type for your digital products.

Customize Your Bot

To maximize conversions, we strongly recommend customizing the name, avatar, description, and button of your bot so that your customers aren't confused when sending their payment to complete their order.

If you want to customize your bot, you'll have to contact @BotFather once again and enter specific edit commands within the chat field.

While you're in control of your design, we have a few recommendations to help you charge new sales through Telegram:

  • /setname - changes the bots name. We recommend naming your bot: "Company_Name_Here Payments"

  • /setdescription - changes the bots description. We recommend adding this description: "Use your Telegram account to complete secure payments on our website."

  • /setimage - changes the bots avatar. We recommend using the company logo you use on Billgang.

Nice To Knows

Pricing for Telegram Stars varies based on the customer region. We've noticed that customers who pay in Euro pay on average a slightly higher percentage than customers who pay in US Dollars.

Businesses may not see direct withdrawal options for Telegram Stars unless they reach a minimum of 1,000 stars and have an active balance after the Telegram imposed 21-day payment hold.

Access to this payment plugin is limited to customers on our Scale plan. Learn more about pricing.

If you're experiencing issues with your Telegram bot or stars, Billgang Support is only a few messages away. Get in touch with our team: https://support.billgang.com/en/articles/8915859-how-do-i-contact-billgang-support.

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