Telegram is growing at light-speed and just surpassed over 900 million monthly active users, as of March 2024.

Telegram is hot on the heels of Whatsapp and other messaging services vying for user attention and business users. 

Objectively, Telegram’s app is much more ‘slick’ and fun to use than Whatsapp, but Whatsapp (owned by Meta) still has a much larger market share with around 2.8 billion monthly active users. 

So why should you care about Telegram?

In addition to a number of interesting Telegram Business features [link to other blog post], Telegram just announced Monetization for group channels. That means if you own a channel with at least 1,000 subscribers, you can now get 50%(!) of the revenue generated.

If you believe, like we do, that Telegram usage is going to continue to grow rapidly as the company approaches its IPO, before going truly mainstream then, running a large Telegram channel could become very lucrative! Moreover, successful channels started now will likely to see great organic growth compared with other platforms e.g. Whatsapp, due to the rapid user growth.

What is a Telegram channel?

Telegram Channels are a broadcasting tool that allows you to send public messages to a wide audience directly. With each post, subscribers receive a notification on their phones, ensuring immediate communication.

These channels can host an unlimited number of subscribers, and only administrators are permitted to post content. In contrast to Telegram Groups, the messages in channels display the channel's name and photo rather than the individual poster’s details.

Channels are popular among content creators, media outlets, celebrities and public figures for maintaining engagement with their audience, such as readers, voters, and fans. For practical illustrations, consider visiting channels like @Bloomberg, the Coronavirus Info channel, or the official @Telegram channel for updates.

Where does the money come from?

Every month, channels on Telegram accumulate over 1 trillion views. Non-premium subscribers are shown ads in channels and 50% of money from these ads are now shared with Telegram channel owners. 

What makes Telegram Ads different?

Ads on Telegram are distinct from those on other platforms, appearing solely in large public channels and never in your chats, chat list, or other interfaces.

These ads do not utilize user data but are instead tied solely to the channel where they're displayed, directly benefiting the channel owners.

If you’re a premium subscriber, you can turn these ads off under your settings. 

Moreover, ads on the platform run on a blockchain called TON, which is deeply integrated into Telegram. You can pay for ads in TON’s native currency Toncoins. Don’t worry if you’re new to crypto, TON is fast,has very low transaction fees and given everything happens seamlessly within Telegram it’s easy to use.

How to create a Telegram channel?

To start a channel, go to the “New Message” menu in Telegram and select “New Channel”. Initially set to private, the channel's settings can be modified to public visibility.

Public channel content is accessible online without needing a Telegram account and is searchable by search engines. For instance, you can view content at t.me/s/FinancialTimes.

How to earn money from your Telegram channel?

Turning Telegram monetization ON

‍

Go to Channel Settings > Statistics > Monetization to see your channel's monetization stats. Withdrawals for channel owners will become available in the coming weeks on Fragment.

How to withdraw money from Telegram Monetization

Channel owners can withdraw their rewards without any  fees – or reinvest them into Telegram ads, collectible usernames or Premium giveaways.Telegram has announced that withdrawals will be possible in the coming weeks via the integrated Fragment website.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Telegram's monetization features present an enticing opportunity for creators and community leaders to capitalize on a platform that is rapidly expanding its user base. With Telegram now offering a generous 50% revenue share for ad earnings on channels with significant audiences, there is a clear financial incentive to grow and maintain a dedicated following on this platform. Furthermore, the seamless integration of ads through the TON blockchain and the ability to use Toncoins for transactions adds a layer of simplicity and innovation, making it even more attractive for channel owners. Whether you're a content creator, a media house, or a public figure, starting a Telegram channel now could not only expand your reach but also provide a sustainable revenue stream as the platform edges closer to its IPO and beyond mainstream adoption. Thus, for those looking to leverage their digital presence into tangible earnings, embracing Telegram's monetization tools could prove to be a wise and profitable strategy.

‍