I’ll show you how to practically create and configure links to a Telegram channel or group so they work predictably. No rare tricks, only what’s actually used every day. Plus verification: how to understand where subscribers came from, and where mistakes are most often made.
In short: what types of links exist and when to use them
In practice, you most often need one of three types: a public link to a channel, an invite link with parameters, and a link to a specific message. Here’s how they differ and where to use what.
| Link Type | Example | What It Does | When to Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public channel link | https://t.me/username | Opens a public channel | Social media bios, website, business cards | Only works for public channels |
| Invite link | https://t.me/+abcdefg… | Invites to a private or public channel, respecting limits | Advertising, partners, different traffic sources | Can set expiration, limit, and link name |
| Message link | https://t.me/username/123 | Opens a specific post | Announcements, pinned posts, channel navigation | Doesn’t work for external users in private channels |
If you don’t understand where to get a link to your Telegram, open the channel or group settings and check the type: public ones use a short username like t.me/username, private ones only have invite links from the management section.
Quick scenario: creating an invite link to a channel
If you just need to quickly provide a link – here’s the minimum set of actions. I’ll show you by platform.
Telegram Desktop
- Open the channel – Manage channel – Invite Links.
- Click Create Link – set a name, and if needed, expiration and limit.
- Save – Copy Link. Done.
Android
- Go to the channel – gear icon – Invite Links.
- Create New – set a name – if needed, expiration date and member limit.
- Save – Copy.
iOS
- Go to the channel – Info – Edit – Invite Links.
- Create – enter a name – if needed, expiration and limit.
- Create Link – Copy.
It’s important to check one often-forgotten detail: if you’re making a link for advertising, set a clear link name. Later, this name makes it easy to view statistics within Telegram itself.
Invite link settings: what they provide in practice
Here, people usually make the same mistake – they create one unlimited, non-expiring link for all traffic sources. In the end, it’s unclear where people came from. It’s better to create separate links for each source with clear names right away.
| Setting | How It Works | When to Enable | What to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link Name | Just an internal label in the admin panel | Always, if the traffic source is important | Write briefly: ads_vk_jan, site_footer, partner_ivan |
| Expiration Date | The link stops allowing new users after the date | Promotions, temporary campaigns, one-time integrations | Add a 1-2 day buffer to avoid cutting off the tail |
| Member Limit | Entry closes after reaching the limit | Traffic testing, limited offers, invite-only clubs | Set with a buffer to avoid burning budget due to a closed door |
| Deactivate/Disable | The link stops working completely | Link leak, spam, campaign completion | Check where it’s published to replace it |
Traffic tracking: how to understand where subscribers came from
UTM tags don’t work inside the Telegram app – they aren’t captured in channel analytics. In practice, people do it simpler: they create a separate invite link for each source and check its stats in the Invite Links section.
In practice, the question how to make a Telegram link in Tilda boils down to one thing – place exactly an invite link so that Telegram correctly counts joins from the website.
| Source | What to Do | Where to Place It | How to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website | Create a link named site_footer | Footer, Contact page, block button | Invite Links section – number of joins |
| VK | Create a link vk_feed_jan | Pinned post in community, post, group header | Watch the growth from this link after publication |
| Blogger advertising | Create blogger_name_date | Give this exact link to the blogger | Compare joins and activity on the days the ad ran |
| Email newsletter | Create email_oct_sale | Button in the email | Match the spike in joins with the send time |
If you have a public channel and just need a recognizable link, use the short username. For analytics, still create parallel invite links for your sources.
How to embed a link in a post or button
If you need to neatly hide a link in text – in the channel, highlight the word, tap Add Link and paste the address. In practice, this is most often done for announcement posts.
- Desktop: highlight text – Ctrl+K – paste link – Enter.
- Android: highlight text – three dots – Link – paste address.
- iOS: highlight text – Insert Link – address – Done.
In practice, the question how to put a Telegram link in Instagram is solved via the profile or a story button – place an invite link there to see the real influx of subscribers.
Buttons under a post are more convenient to set up via posting bots. Don’t overcomplicate it – choose one working service where it’s easy to add inline buttons and schedule posts.
- Action plan: create a post in the service – add a button – paste the invite link – schedule or send.
Scenarios: quick or thorough
If a Telegram link on TikTok is used, it’s better to immediately dedicate it to that specific source, otherwise subscriber growth cannot be linked to the videos.
| Task | What You Could Do | What’s Better to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Quickly give a channel link | Copy https://t.me/username | Create an invite link named quick_share to see joins |
| Advertising on one platform | Give out the public link | Make a separate invite link with the platform name and a 7-14 day expiration |
| Multiple traffic sources | One non-expiring link | Separate links for each source, checking stats weekly |
| Post announcement | Give the channel link | Give a link to the specific post in a public channel |
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- One link for all traffic channels – can’t figure out what worked later. Solution: separate links with clear names.
- Too strict a member limit – link closes during a campaign peak. Solution: set a buffer for the limit and expiration.
- Placing a link to a private post externally – users get an opening error. Solution: for private channels, only give invite links to outsiders.
If the question arises what to do if a Telegram link doesn’t open, first check the expiration date, member limit, and channel type – most often the reason is in these settings, not the app itself.
- Link shorteners on top of t.me – some audience members don’t trust them. Solution: give the original t.me without middlemen.
- Lost control over a link – it got shared widely. Solution: disable the old one, create a new one, update publications in visible places.
Pre-publishing checklist
- Channel type checked: public or private.
- A separate invite link with a clear name created for the source.
- Expiration date and member limit set with a buffer.
- Link opens in incognito mode and on a phone – without authorization or errors.
- If a neat presentation is needed – link is hidden in a word or button.
- Quick access saved: the Invite Links section is bookmarked.
Short answers to frequent questions
- Can I change the link name later – yes, edit it in the invite links list, its stats will be preserved.
- Will UTM tags help in Telegram – no, they don’t work inside the app for channel analytics, create separate links for sources.
- How to disable an old link – open its settings and disable access, then create a new one and update publications.
It’s important not to confuse link management with account deletion – delete Telegram account link refers to a separate procedure and does not affect the functionality of previously created invite links for channels and groups.
- Why won’t the link open – check if it’s expired, if the limit is reached, and the channel’s publicity.
- How to make a QR code – generate a QR code for your t.me link using any generator and test scanning from two phones.
A separate task – how to create a link to a Telegram bot: this uses its username, and if needed, launch parameters can be added to help track the referral source.
Step-by-step breakdown: where people most often click the wrong thing
When a channel is private, people try to give out a link to a post – it won’t open for new users. First, let them join via an invite link, then guide them to the post inside the channel.
When a channel is public but traffic needs to be tracked, they give out the short channel name. It’s better to keep that in the header, and for advertising, create invite links by source – then you see the real contribution of each platform.
Mini-implementation plan (1 hour)
- 10 minutes: list your sources – website, VK, blogger, newsletter.
- 20 minutes: create one link per source, name them with a consistent pattern.
- 20 minutes: replace links in current places – headers, buttons, pinned posts.
- 10 minutes: test opening on phone and in browser, take screenshots of settings.
Result you’ll see
- A clear breakdown by source will appear in the Invite Links section.
- In a week, you’ll see what works better, without guesswork or manual counting.
- Links will stop dying unexpectedly due to expiration or limit – you control them.
Conclusion
Links in Telegram last a long time if you initially set them up for your traffic sources. In practice, it’s 15 minutes of work: a separate invite link for each platform, short names, and careful checking of expiration and limit.
Ultimately, any Telegram link works predictably only when you understand its task in advance – quick entry or traffic source control.
If you just want to quickly provide access – use a public link. If you need clear tracking – make invite links with names for sources and check stats right in Telegram. No Excel spreadsheets and no guesswork.
Where are you planning to place the link first – website, social media, or blogger advertising?
