Overview
Creating a Telegram bot allows you to interact with customers through Telegram. The process starts in Telegram itself using BotFather — the official bot for creating and managing other bots — and takes just a few minutes.
How to create the bot
Step 1: Find BotFather
Open Telegram and search for @BotFather. This is the official Telegram bot for creating and managing bots.
Step 2: Start the creation process
Send the
/startcommand to BotFather.Send the
/newbotcommand to begin creating a new bot.
Step 3: Choose a name and username
BotFather will ask for a name for your bot. This is the display name visible to customers (you can change it later).
BotFather will then ask for a unique username. The username must be unique and end with "bot" (e.g.,
MyCafeBotorPerkstarLoyalty_Bot).
Step 4: Save the API token
Once the bot is created, BotFather provides an API token. Copy and save this token securely — you'll need it to connect the bot to Perkstar.
Step 5: Connect the bot to Perkstar
Navigate to Settings in the left-hand menu, then click Services.
Find the Telegram bot connection option and enter the API token you saved.
Complete the connection.
Your Telegram bot is now linked to your Perkstar account.
FAQs
Can I change the bot's name later?
Yes. You can update the bot's display name at any time by sending the /setname command to BotFather. The username cannot be changed after creation.
What if my chosen username is taken?
Telegram usernames must be unique. Try a different variation — for example, add your business name or location (e.g., MyBakeryLondon_Bot).
Where do I find the API token if I lose it?
Send the /token command to BotFather, then select the bot you want to retrieve the token for.