Jeff Bullas

Excellent question, it highlights a critical web performance trade-off.

Quick Answer: Yes, when organised properly, lazy loading drastically improves initial page load performance by deferring the download of offscreen content like images and videos.

The goal is to make the site feel faster to the user by loading only what they need to see first.

Your concern about lag is valid, as poor implementation can certainly create a jarring user experience. The primary benefit of lazy loading is a faster initial render of the page because the browser isn’t trying to download every single image and video embed at once.

First, this positively impacts core performance metrics by prioritising the content visible in the viewport.

Second, to avoid that ‘janky’ scrolling you mentioned, it is crucial that placeholders are used for the deferred images, specifying their dimensions so the browser reserves the correct space, which prevents the page layout from shifting as the user scrolls.

Finally, you must avoid the common mistake of lazy loading assets that are “above the fold”—such as your logo or main hero image—as this would actively harm performance by delaying the very content the user needs to see immediately.

Cheers,
Jeff

A common and frustrating problem, but it is manageable.

Short Answer: The standard solution is to add a pre-built moderation bot to your channel, which uses an automated, interactive verification process to filter new members.

Let’s look at how the different types of content these security bots use can protect your channel.

Firstly, the most effective method is a security bot that presents new users with an interactive text or image-based challenge, such as a ‘Click to verify’ button or a simple captcha image. This interactive content acts as a gate that most spam bots cannot pass.

Secondly, without any coding, you can use simple text-based commands to configure the bot to manage newly verified members, for instance, by automatically deleting any text message containing a link from a new user for their first 24 hours.

Thirdly, this entire automated approach is fundamentally more effective than relying on Telegram’s built-in manual tools. Those default options are purely reactive, requiring you to clean up a mess after it happens, whereas a proper moderation bot proactively stops the attack before it starts.

Cheers,

Jeff

Moving from random posting to a deliberate strategy is the key to long-term success.

Short Answer: A successful strategy uses a mix of content formats mapped to specific goals—like community building, value provision, and promotion—and scheduled consistently.

Let’s structure this by assigning different content formats to the core pillars of your channel.

A solid strategy provides balance and prevents burnout. Start by creating three content ‘pillars’ for your eco-shop. Firstly, you need a ‘Value’ pillar, which is designed to educate or help your audience. You can use simple text and image formats for this, such as posting a weekly text-based tip on sustainable living or sharing a high-quality image of a ‘Product in Action’ that demonstrates its use without a hard sell. Secondly, create a ‘Community’ pillar to foster interaction. This is where you should leverage Telegram’s native interactive formats. Use the poll and quiz features to create engaging text-based questions, or host a short, live audio chat for a Q&A session to connect directly with your members. Thirdly, you have your ‘Promotional’ pillar, which should feature your most polished content. Use high-quality videos to announce new products or create special image carousels to showcase a new collection. By organising your strategy this way and assigning specific formats to clear goals, you create a varied and sustainable content plan that keeps your audience engaged because they aren’t just being sold to all the time.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a very strategic question to be asking.

Short Answer: Yes, Telegram can be highly effective for affiliate marketing, but only if you use a content-first strategy rather than just posting links.

Success depends entirely on how you leverage different content formats to build trust and provide value around your affiliate offers.

The key is to treat your Telegram channel like a community, not a billboard. People are there for value, and any affiliate offer must be wrapped in that value. Firstly, instead of just posting text links, you need to use compelling visuals. Create high-quality image-based reviews or even “unboxing” style photo sets that visually showcase the product you’re promoting. This practise builds far more trust than a simple link ever could. Secondly, leverage audio and video to add a layer of authenticity. Record a short, honest audio review explaining your experience with the product, or film a quick video demonstrating a key feature. Hearing your voice or seeing the product in use is critical for conversions in a closed community. Thirdly, your text content must be value-driven. Don’t just announce a sale; write a mini-guide, a tutorial, or analyse a deal to help your members make an informed decision. The affiliate link should be presented as a helpful next step, not the sole purpose of the post. It is absolutely crucial that you always disclose the affiliate nature of your links to maintain your audience’s trust. Pure link spam will get your channel muted or abandoned very quickly.

Cheers,

Jeff

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

Good on you for checking; it’s smart to be sure.

Quick Answer: The definitive check is in the ‘Resources’ section of your profile, where it will say ‘Creator mode: On’. The most obvious public sign is the ‘Follow’ button replacing ‘Connect’ as your main call-to-action.

These changes all work together to re-orient your profile to better showcase the content you create.

First, the most certain way to confirm is to view your own profile and find the ‘Resources’ section, which only you can see. It will state in plain text whether Creator Mode is on or off. Second, look at your profile’s main introduction card; if you see a line of clickable hashtags listing your topics of expertise directly under your headline, the mode is active. Third, observe the layout of your profile itself. Creator Mode moves your ‘Featured’ and ‘Activity’ sections higher up the page to prioritise the content you produce over your work experience. Finally, the change most visible to others is that primary button. If other people see ‘Follow’ as the main option on your profile, you are in Creator Mode.

Cheers,

Jeff.

Right, let’s get that sorted for you.

Quick Answer: You can activate it from the ‘Resources’ section on your main profile page, which is visible on both desktop and the mobile app. If it’s not there, your app or browser may need a quick refresh.

The process itself is simple, but the crucial step is choosing the topics that will define the content you plan to create.

First, navigate to your LinkedIn profile and scroll down past your main dashboard to find the ‘Resources’ section. Second, you should see and click on the ‘Creator mode’ link. LinkedIn will then present a screen explaining the changes that will be made to your profile, like making ‘Follow’ your primary call-to-action. Third, and this is the most critical step, you will be prompted to select up to five topics as hashtags. This decision is directly tied to your content strategy, as these hashtags signal to your network the kind of text articles, video explainers, or image-based data you will be creating. Finally, after selecting your topics, you simply confirm the choice to turn the mode on.

Cheers,

Jeff

That’s a smart question to ask.

Short Answer: Your bio needs to be a forward-looking summary of your new career goal, not a backward-looking list of past jobs. Focus on transferable skills and the value you bring to your target industry.

You must reframe your narrative from ‘this is what I’ve done’ to ‘this is where I’m going and why I’m equipped for it’.

First, the structure of the text itself is crucial, so lead with your new objective. Your opening sentence should immediately state your new career goal and frame your experience through that lens. Second, you must focus relentlessly on your transferable skills instead of industry-specific duties. Translate your past achievements into the language of your new field, using keywords from job descriptions you’re targeting. Third, enhance your text-based bio with other content formats to provide tangible proof of your capabilities. You can write a LinkedIn article about your career change journey, add a PDF or image-based portfolio to your featured section, or even record a short introductory video. Using a mix of content formats makes your profile more dynamic and provides concrete evidence to support the narrative you’ve written.

Cheers,

Jeff