Newsrooms are shifting away from Facebook and Twitter. Why? Because Telegram delivers readers who actually read, click, and subscribe - not just scroll past. By 2025, 78% of news publishers rely on Telegram as a core part of their audience strategy, and those using link tracking see 22-35% higher conversion rates than those who don’t. This isn’t luck. It’s science. And it’s working because of how you track your links.
Why Telegram Works Better for News Than Other Platforms
Telegram isn’t just another messaging app. It’s a direct pipeline to an audience that trusts you. Unlike Facebook, where algorithms bury your posts, or Twitter, where headlines get drowned in noise, Telegram channels deliver your news straight to someone’s screen - no filters, no delays. A channel with 10,000 loyal subscribers can outperform a Facebook page with 100,000 likes in click-throughs and conversions. Why? Because people join Telegram channels because they want your content. They’re not passive followers. They’re active readers.Engagement rates on Telegram average 18.7%, compared to 5.2% on typical social media. That’s more than three times higher. And it’s not just about views. People who come through tracked Telegram links are more likely to sign up for newsletters, buy subscriptions, or share your stories. The reason? Trust. Telegram users know they’re getting content from a source they chose - not an ad network.
How Link Tracking Turns Traffic Into Readers
Tracking isn’t optional anymore. If you’re sending people to your site from Telegram and not measuring where they come from, you’re flying blind. You might think, “I see clicks - that’s enough.” But clicks don’t tell you who’s converting. They don’t tell you which headlines work. They don’t tell you if your traffic is cheap or expensive.Here’s how it works: Every link you post in Telegram gets a tiny tag added to it - called a UTM parameter. It looks like this:
https://yournews.com/breaking?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=breaking_news_may2025
These tags tell your analytics tool: This click came from Telegram, through a specific channel, as part of a breaking news campaign. Without them, all your traffic just shows up as “direct” or “referral” - useless for planning.
Newsrooms using UTM tracking report a 217% improvement in understanding their audience sources. The Financial Times tracked deep links to monitor daily starts, interactions, and lead conversions - and boosted premium subscription conversions to 28.4%. That’s not magic. That’s data.
The Tools That Actually Work in 2025
You can’t rely on Bitly or Google’s URL shortener. They count clicks. That’s it. Telegram needs more. You need to know who subscribed, who clicked a link to buy, who left after one message. That’s where specialized tools come in.AdMaven’s Smart Links automatically detect a user’s country, device, and connection speed - then route them to the best-performing version of your content in real time. It’s like having a personal traffic cop for every visitor. TechCrunch called it the biggest advancement in Telegram tracking since 2024.
Prizma.tools tracks subscriptions, unsubscribes, and engagement rates with 98.7% accuracy. One publisher on Reddit said it kept their unsubscribe rate under 20% - the threshold experts say separates quality traffic from spammy leads.
MVP Project lets you segment subscribers by actions: who clicked a link? Who filled out a form? Who bought? You can then send targeted follow-ups only to people who showed real interest.
These aren’t just analytics dashboards. They’re growth engines. And they’re why newsrooms using them are growing their Telegram audiences by 15-25% every month.
What Happens When You Don’t Track Properly
Ignoring tracking doesn’t just mean you’re missing data. It means you’re wasting money.One major news outlet tried using aggressive content lockers - forcing users to complete a form before accessing an exclusive report. They expected conversions. Instead, engagement dropped 63%. Why? They didn’t segment their audience. They treated everyone the same. The result? People left. Fast.
AdMaven says it plainly: “Weak content kills engagement rate.” Tracking doesn’t fix bad content. But it tells you what content is weak - so you can fix it.
Another common mistake? Using the same link for every post. You send 10 stories in a week with the same UTM tag. Now you have no idea which one drove sign-ups. That’s like buying 10 billboards but not knowing which one brought customers.
Each campaign needs its own tag. Each headline. Each time of day. Each channel. You need to treat each link like a unique experiment.
How to Set It Up in 5 Days
You don’t need a tech team. You don’t need to code. Here’s how to get started:- Choose your tracking tool: Start with AdMaven or Prizma.tools. Both offer free trials.
- Create a naming system: Use consistent tags. Example:
utm_source=telegram_abc_news,utm_campaign=weekend_summary. - Generate links: Use their built-in generator. No manual typing.
- Post links in Telegram: Use your channel, group, or bot.
- Check analytics daily: Look for spikes. What time gets the most clicks? What topic has the highest conversion? Adjust next day.
Most teams get comfortable with basic tracking in 2-5 days. Mastering segmentation takes 2-3 weeks. But even the basics will give you more insight than most newsrooms have after a year.
Cost Comparison: Telegram vs. Facebook vs. Twitter
Let’s talk budget. Facebook ads cost more. Twitter engagement is declining. Telegram? It’s cheaper and more effective.According to Admitad’s Q1 2025 report, you need 67% less budget to acquire the same number of engaged readers on Telegram compared to Facebook. Why? Because Telegram users aren’t being targeted by ads. They’re choosing you. That means lower acquisition cost and higher retention.
Telegram also reduces audience churn by 42% compared to Twitter/X. People don’t leave because they’re bored. They leave because you’re not giving them what they signed up for. Tracking tells you when that’s happening.
And the numbers add up. The Telegram news audience acquisition market hit $1.27 billion in 2025 - up 214% since 2022. Sixty-eight percent of major news organizations now spend 15-25% of their digital budget on Telegram. That’s not a trend. That’s a shift.
What’s Coming Next
Telegram isn’t standing still. In April 2025, they updated their API to track story views and interactions more precisely. AdMaven launched Smart CPM campaigns in May - optimized for news publishers. And Graspil is building AI that predicts which stories will convert before they’re even posted.By late 2025, Telegram will roll out its own “Audience Insights” dashboard. That means less reliance on third-party tools. But for now, you still need them.
Experts warn that EU privacy laws could limit tracking capabilities by 15-20% if stricter rules are enforced. That’s why you need to be ready - use consent prompts, offer opt-ins, and avoid collecting data you don’t need.
Who Should Use This - And Who Shouldn’t
This strategy works best for:- Newsrooms with breaking news or daily updates
- Outlets with a loyal, niche audience (politics, finance, local news)
- Teams with at least one person who can manage basic digital marketing
It’s less effective for:
- Long-form investigative pieces that need weeks of nurturing
- Outlets with no content calendar or consistent posting schedule
- Teams unwilling to check analytics daily
Telegram rewards consistency. It rewards clarity. It rewards tracking. If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing. And guessing doesn’t grow audiences.
Final Thought: It’s Not About the Tool - It’s About the Habit
The best tool won’t help if you don’t use it. The most advanced UTM system won’t matter if you post without tagging. The real edge isn’t in the software. It’s in the discipline.Start small. Tag one link per day. Watch what happens. After a week, you’ll see patterns. After a month, you’ll know what works. After three months, you’ll be outperforming newsrooms that still rely on Facebook’s fading reach.
Telegram isn’t the future of news distribution. It’s the present. And if you’re not tracking your links, you’re leaving readers - and revenue - on the table.
Do I need to pay for Telegram link tracking tools?
No, you don’t need to pay right away. Tools like AdMaven and Prizma.tools offer free tiers that let you track up to 1,000 clicks per month - enough to test if it works for your audience. Once you start seeing conversions, upgrading to paid plans (usually $20-$80/month) pays for itself by helping you cut wasted ad spend and boost subscriptions.
Can I track links in private Telegram groups?
No. Telegram doesn’t allow external tracking in private groups or channels with restricted access. You can only track links posted in public channels or bots. If you want to measure engagement in private groups, you’ll need to use internal methods like polls, direct messages, or ask users to reply with a code after clicking your link.
What’s the difference between UTM parameters and deep linking?
UTM parameters are tags added to URLs that tell analytics tools where traffic came from. Deep linking means sending users directly to a specific page inside your app or website - like a news article - instead of your homepage. On Telegram, deep linking ensures users land exactly where you want them, and when combined with UTM tags, you get both precision and context. Most tools combine both.
How often should I check my Telegram analytics?
Check daily during breaking news events. Otherwise, check every 2-3 days. Look for trends: Which headlines get the most clicks? What time of day performs best? Which links lead to sign-ups? Daily checks help you adapt quickly. Weekly reviews help you plan the next week’s content.
Is Telegram link tracking GDPR compliant?
Only if you do it right. Many tools collect user data like location and device type without consent - which violates GDPR in the EU. To stay compliant, add a simple opt-in prompt before users click your links: “We use tracking to improve your experience. By clicking, you agree to limited data collection.” Use tools that offer consent management features, and avoid storing data longer than necessary.
Can I use Telegram tracking for video content?
Yes. You can post video links in Telegram just like text links. Use UTM parameters on the video’s landing page - whether it’s hosted on YouTube, your own site, or Telegram’s built-in video player. Track which videos get the most clicks and which lead to subscriptions. Video content on Telegram has a 30% higher retention rate than text-only posts, according to PropellerAds’ 2025 report.
What’s the biggest mistake newsrooms make with Telegram tracking?
Using the same link for every post. If you send five stories with the same UTM tag, you can’t tell which one worked. Each headline, each campaign, each day needs its own unique tag. Treat every link like a separate experiment. That’s how you learn what your audience really wants.
