Setting Up and Using The Telegram Bot

The Telegram bot integration allows you to automatically share products from ChinaFinds directly to your Telegram channel. This feature makes it easy to stay consistent and stay engaged with your audience. In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire setup process step by step.

Why Use the Telegram Bot?

The Telegram bot integration offers several benefits:

• Automated Sharing: Sends products directly from ChinaFinds to your Telegram channel every 30 minutes
• Endless Products: Picks from ChinaFinds constantly growing database of products to ensure always new products
• Simple Setup: Quickly set up the bot and it will start sending immediately.
• Free to Use: Currently available as a free feature for all users

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Open BotFather

The first step is to access BotFather, Telegram's official bot creation tool. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather, or click this link to open BotFather directly: https://t.me/botfather

Step 2: Create New Bot

Once you've opened BotFather, start a chat and send the command /newbot to create a new bot. BotFather will guide you through the creation process.

Step 3: Choose Bot Name

When prompted, enter a display name for your bot. This name can contain spaces and will be visible to users who interact with your bot. Choose something descriptive that represents your brand or channel.

Step 4: Choose Username

Next, you'll need to choose a username for your bot. This must end with "bot" (e.g., my_awesome_bot). The username must be unique, so you may need to try a few variations if your first choice is taken.

Step 5: Get API Token

After successfully creating your bot, BotFather will provide you with an API token. This token looks like: 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOPqrstUVwxyz. Important: Copy this token immediately and keep it secure - you'll need it to configure your bot on ChinaFinds.

Step 6: Set Up Bot Profile

Click the link BotFather provided to open your bot's profile. Here you can:

• Add a profile picture
• Write a description
• Add commands and settings

Setting up a professional profile helps establish credibility with your audience.

Step 7: Add Bot to Channel

To allow your bot to post messages to your channel, you need to add it as an administrator:

1. Open your Telegram channel
2. Click the channel name at the top
3. Select "Administrators"
4. Click "Add Administrator"
5. Search for your bot's username
6. Select your bot and click "Add"

Step 8: Set Bot Permissions

Once your bot is added as an administrator, configure its permissions:

1. In the Administrator settings, enable "Post Messages"
2. Enable "Edit Messages" (optional but recommended)
3. Enable "Delete Messages" (optional but recommended)
4. Click "Save"

These permissions allow your bot to post product information to your channel.

Configuring Your Bot on ChinaFinds

Now that your bot is created and added to your channel, it's time to connect it to your ChinaFinds account:

1. Log in to your ChinaFinds account - Make sure you're signed in to access the bot configuration
2. Navigate to Settings - Go to your account settings page
3. Find the Telegram Bot section - Look for the "Telegram Bot" configuration area
4. Enter your API Token - Paste the API token you received from BotFather
5. Enter your Channel Username - Add your channel username (make sure it starts with @, e.g., @yourchannel)
6. Save your configuration - Click the save button to store your settings

Your bot is now connected and ready to use!

Using Your Telegram Bot

Once configured, you can use the Telegram bot in several ways:

Sharing Products from the Website

When browsing products on ChinaFinds, you'll be able to share them directly to your Telegram channel. This feature is coming soon.

Chrome Extension Integration

The Chrome extension will soon support sending products directly to your Telegram channel. When viewing a product, you'll be able to share it with a single click, making it easy to curate products as you browse. This feature is coming soon.

Managing Your Channel

Your bot will automatically format product information when posting to your channel, including:

• Product images
• Product descriptions
• Pricing information
• Links to view the QC photos
• Your chosen agent link (With your affiliate code)

Troubleshooting

Bot Not Posting Messages

If your bot isn't posting messages, check:

• The bot is added as an administrator to your channel
• The bot has "Post Messages" permission enabled
• Your API token is correct and hasn't been revoked
• Your channel username is correct (including the @ symbol)
• The bot sends every 30 minutes so you may need to wait up to 30 minutes for it to send

API Token Issues

If you're having trouble with your API token:

• Make sure you copied the entire token from BotFather
• Check that there are no extra spaces before or after the token
• If needed, you can revoke and regenerate your token in BotFather using /revoke command

Channel Username Format

Your channel username must:

• Start with the @ symbol
• Match your channel's exact username
• Not include any spaces

If you have any other issues please contact me on discord.

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ChinaFinds is a product search engine designed to help users discover products from Chinese marketplaces like Taobao, Weidian, and 1688. The platform aggregates over 12,000+ products with verified QC photos and supports 23+ shopping agents, making it easier for users to find and purchase products from China.

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Want to contribute or have feedback? Reach out through my social media links.

Tags: Telegram, Bot Setup, Tutorial, chinafinds