1. What Is a Telegram Bot?

A Telegram bot is a computer program that interacts with users through the Telegram messaging app. Bots can perform a wide range of functions, such as automatic message replies, notification pushes, service delivery, and even entertainment.

For businesses looking to improve customer experience or streamline internal processes, Telegram bots are valuable automation tools.

Since its launch in 2013 by Pavel Durov, Telegram has rapidly grown in popularity thanks to its secure, fast, and feature-rich communication experience. Despite facing bans and restrictions in some countries, it now boasts over 500 million active users globally.

Thanks to no-code tools like Directual — and even advanced AI models like ChatGPT — creating a smart, automated Telegram bot is easier than ever, even for beginners.

2. What Is BotFather?

BotFather isn’t a robot dad, but it is the origin of all Telegram bots. It’s an official tool provided by Telegram that allows users to create and manage their own bots with ease.

With BotFather, you can:

• Create your own bot

• Customize the bot’s name, profile picture, and description

• Add commands and features

• Get an API token to connect your bot to backend services

Even if you don’t have a tech background, you can still build a functional and practical bot through BotFather. It’s widely loved by both developers and businesses.

3. How to Create a Telegram Bot Using BotFather (Just 5 Steps)

Step 1: Open Telegram on Your Desktop

Make sure you have the Telegram desktop app installed. If not, download it from the official Telegram website.

Step 2: Search for “BotFather”

Open Telegram, search for “@BotFather,” and start a conversation.

Step 3: Click “/newbot” to Start

Use the command /newbot to begin the bot creation process. BotFather will guide you from here.

Step 4: Name Your Bot

Choose a display name for your bot — make it descriptive and relevant to its purpose.

Step 5: Set a Unique Username

Next, choose a username for your bot (it must end in “_bot,” e.g., “mycoolbot”). This will generate a public link like https://t.me/mycoolbot.

After these steps, BotFather will give you an API token. Save this — you’ll need it to connect your bot to a backend platform like Directual.

4. How to Edit and Customize Your Bot

Once your bot is live, you may want to tweak some settings or enhance its features.

Here's how:

1. Go back to the BotFather chat

2. Select the bot you created

3. Choose “Edit Bot” from the menu

4. You can now change the bot’s avatar, description, or command list

5. Save your changes and test the bot again

If you want to create interaction commands like /start or /help, you can also add them through BotFather.

5. How to Create Custom Bot Commands

Bot commands let users quickly access your bot’s features. To create your own commands:

1. Decide which commands you need (e.g., /news, /joke)

2. Set them up using BotFather

3. Link each command to a backend function (code-based or no-code)

4. Test to make sure everything works as expected

Popular examples:

• /weather: fetch current weather info

• /quote: provide daily motivational quotes

• /news: deliver latest news updates

Custom commands make your bot more interactive and engaging — use your imagination!

6. How to Connect a Telegram Bot to Directual

To automate responses and workflows, integrate your bot with Directual — a powerful no-code platform.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Install the Telegram Plugin
Go to the “Plugins” section in Directual, find the Telegram plugin, paste your API token, and install it.

Step 2: Explore Data Structures
Navigate to the database section and locate “Integrations/Telegram.” It will contain:

• Incoming Telegram messages

• Outgoing Telegram messages

• Telegram users

• Telegram chats

• Telegram keyboards (legacy)

Step 3: Test Message Reception
Send a message or file to your bot, and check the “TMessageIn” structure for new entries.

Step 4: Create an Automation Scenario
Set up a new scenario triggered by new entries in “TMessageIn.” Add a Telegram step and configure it to perform an action. Don’t forget to publish and run the scenario.

Now your bot is automated — no coding needed!

7. Add AI: Supercharge Your Bot with ChatGPT

Want your bot to sound human and hold intelligent conversations? You can enhance it using OpenAI’s ChatGPT API.

Ideas include:

• Natural language replies

• Smart Q&A systems

• Personalized recommendations

Start simple, and when you’re ready, take your bot to the next level with AI-powered intelligence.

8. Conclusion

Telegram bots are incredibly versatile tools — they can send alerts, deliver information, automate customer service, and more. With the help of tools like BotFather and Directual, even non-developers can easily build fully functional bots.

By combining automation, no-code development, and AI technologies like ChatGPT, you can create powerful bots that save time, improve user experience, and bring your ideas to life.

Don’t wait — in just 15 minutes, you can build and launch your own Telegram bot. If you need help, join the Fansgurus community on Telegram, or reach out to us. Let’s build the future of automation, together!