[FAQ]

I started a Telegram channel a month ago for my small handicraft shop here in BGC. I’ve invited all my friends and family, and posted about it on my IG and FB pages. I’ve managed to get about 100 members, which is great, but now growth has totally flatlined. It feels like I’ve hit a wall.

Seeing other channels with thousands of members is a bit discouraging. The goal of hitting my first 1,000 members feels so far away. What did you guys do to get past this initial slow phase and start seeing real growth? Any specific strategies that worked well? Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Bullas]

Great question, as that first milestone is often the hardest.

Short Answer: To break past the initial plateau, you must focus on creating high-value, shareable content tailored to your specific audience and then promote it strategically outside of Telegram.

Let’s break down how different content formats play a crucial role in that strategy.

You need to give people a compelling reason to join and an even better reason to share your channel with others. Firstly, for a handicraft shop, your primary tools are visual. You should be posting exceptionally high-quality images and short, engaging videos showcasing your products and your creation process. This type of visual content is highly shareable on other platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which can then funnel people to your exclusive Telegram channel. Secondly, you must generate interaction within the channel to make it feel alive. Use text-based polls to ask your hundred members what they’d like to see next, or run a small Q&A session. This makes your members feel valued and more likely to stick around. Thirdly, create valuable resources that aren’t just direct selling. You could offer a short, text-based guide on how to care for handcrafted items, or even a simple document on colour theory for home decor. This provides utility and establishes your expertise, encouraging organic shares. It is vital to realise that sustainable growth comes from genuine interest, not inflated numbers, so I would strongly advise against the temptation to buy members as this rarely translates to real engagement and can damage your channel’s reputation.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts