Telegram QR codes: channel, group or bot
Which links fit, public vs private invites and how to count subscribers from offline placements.
Which links work
| Open | Link format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public channel or group | t.me/username | Address never changes |
| Bot | t.me/botname | Can pass a start parameter |
| Private channel | t.me/+code | Invite can be revoked |
| Personal profile | t.me/username | Needs a public username |
Counting offline subscribers
Private channels and groups can have several invite links, and Telegram shows how many people joined through each. Create one link for flyers and another for packaging, and make a code for each.
For bots add ?start=window to the link: the bot receives that value on first launch and can count where users came from.
What to write next to the code
Codes without context rarely get scanned. State the benefit: “Deals before anyone else”, “Daily menu and offers”, “Track your order in the bot”.