Before You Begin
Before connecting Telegram to BotSailor, make sure you have:
- ● An active Telegram account
- ● A BotSailor account
- ● A Telegram bot username
- ● The Bot token generated by BotFather
Good news: You do not need programming knowledge to complete the basic connection.
Step 1: Create Your Telegram Bot
The first step is creating a bot inside Telegram. Telegram provides an official bot-management account called BotFather, which allows users to create and configure Telegram bots.
Telegram's official documentation confirms that users can create a bot by opening BotFather, using the /newbot command, and following the instructions to receive a bot token.
1 Open Telegram and Search for BotFather
Open the Telegram mobile application, desktop application, or web version. In the search bar, type:
@BotFather
Tip: Look carefully before opening the account. Select the official BotFather account rather than an unofficial account with a similar name.
BotFather is Telegram's official tool for creating and managing bots.
2 Start a Conversation with BotFather
Open the BotFather conversation and select the Start button. You may also type:
/start
BotFather will display a list of available commands that can be used to create and manage Telegram bots.
3 Create a New Telegram Bot
Type the following command and send it:
/newbot
BotFather will ask you to provide two pieces of information:
Bot display name
This is the name users will see when they open or interact with your bot. Examples include:
- ● BotSailor Support Assistant
- ● ABC Store Customer Care
- ● Digital Marketing Helper
- ● My Business Assistant
Your display name does not necessarily have to end with "bot."
Bot username
Next, BotFather will ask you to choose a unique username. The username must be available and should end with bot. Examples:
- ● ABCSupportBot
- ● MyStoreAssistantBot
- ● Semibot
- ● MarketingHelpBot
If your preferred username is unavailable, try adding your company name, location, service, or another relevant word. For example:
- ● ABCStoreBDbot
- ● ABCOfficialSupportBot
- ● ABCSalesAssistantBot
Avoid making the username unnecessarily long or difficult to remember.
4 Copy and Save Your Bot Token
After your bot has been created successfully, BotFather will provide a Bot token. The token acts like a private password that allows another system, such as BotSailor, to communicate with and control your Telegram bot.
Copy the complete token and save it somewhere secure. You will need it during the BotSailor connection process.
⚠ Important security warning
Never publish your bot token on:
- ● Your website
- ● Facebook posts
- ● Public documents
- ● Screenshots
- ● Online forums
- ● Public code repositories
- ● Shared spreadsheets
Anyone who gains access to the token may be able to control your bot.
If you accidentally expose the token, open BotFather, select the affected bot, and regenerate or revoke the token before continuing.
Step 2: Telegram Connecting to BotSailor
After creating your Telegram bot and copying the token, you can connect it to your BotSailor account.
1 Log In to Your BotSailor Account
Open the official BotSailor website and log in using your account credentials. After logging in, you will be taken to the BotSailor dashboard.
2 Open the Telegram Connection Section
From the BotSailor dashboard, locate the Connect Account section. Then select the Telegram option and open Connect Bot. Depending on dashboard updates, the menu may appear as:
Connect Account → Connect Telegram → Connect Bot
BotSailor's current documentation describes this section as the location where users can paste their Telegram bot token and connect the bot.
3 Paste Your Telegram Bot Token
Find the field labeled Telegram Bot Token or a similar name. Paste the complete token you copied from BotFather. Before continuing, check that:
- ● No characters are missing
- ● No extra spaces were added
- ● You copied the token from the correct bot
- ● The token has not been revoked
- ● The bot has not been deleted
4 Select Connect
After pasting the token, click the Connect button. BotSailor will verify the token and attempt to connect with your Telegram bot. If the token is valid, your bot should appear in your connected Telegram bot list.
5 Confirm the Connection
Once the connection is successful, review the bot information displayed in BotSailor. Confirm that the following details are correct:
- ● Bot name
- ● Telegram username
- ● Bot profile information
- ● Connection status
Done! Your Telegram bot is now connected to BotSailor.
