I’m developing a Python automation tool that monitors deals in a specialized market segment. The script sends alerts through telegram when it finds matching items. I’m thinking about expanding this into multiple bots with different search criteria based on geographic regions, starting domestically then going global.
Right now it runs on my home server just for personal use. But I’m wondering if there’s potential to monetize this concept. My idea is to offer it free initially, then transition to a subscription model around $5 monthly once I build up users.
I haven’t calculated the server costs yet if this scales up, but I figure I’ll handle that challenge when it comes.
Anyone here successfully monetized telegram automation services? What strategies worked for getting your first paying customers?
Ran telegram monitoring bots for three years before selling. Your concept’s solid but validate demand first. Geographic expansion is smart - different regions have totally different deal patterns and timing. I started with one city, then added neighboring areas when users asked. This organic approach helped me figure out which markets had enough volume for separate bots. Wish I’d built a waiting list before launching paid tiers. Kept everything free too long and users expected it to stay that way. The transition sucked. Set usage caps on your free version from day one instead of unlimited access. Server costs get manageable once you optimize scraping intervals and add proper caching. My breakthrough was batching requests and using webhooks instead of constant polling. Cut server load 60% without slowing alerts. For customer acquisition, partnering with relevant communities beat traditional marketing. Found forums and discord servers where my target users hung out. Provided genuine value first, then mentioned my service naturally. Subscription model works but offer annual discounts. Monthly churn was my biggest headache until I incentivized yearly commitments.
Built something similar for tracking inventory across multiple e-commerce platforms. Turned it into decent side income.
You’re missing the operational nightmare of managing multiple Python scripts on different servers. I learned this the hard way with 12 bots running - spent more time fixing server issues than developing features.
Moving to a proper automation platform changed everything. Now I deploy new monitoring bots in minutes instead of hours. Scaling doesn’t require babysitting servers.
For monetization, start with freemium but set clear limits. I give users 10 alerts per day free, then charge $8/month for unlimited. Price higher than $5 - people who actually need deal alerts see real value.
Consider premium features like custom filtering, priority alerts, or API access. That’s where the real money is.
Biggest game changer was switching from managing individual Python scripts to using Latenode. It handles scaling, monitoring, and deployment automatically so I can focus on adding new markets and features instead of server maintenance.
Started monetizing my telegram bots two years ago after running free crypto alerts for months. Going from free to paid was way trickier than I thought. Server costs hit me hard and fast. I completely underestimated bandwidth when my users jumped from 50 to 500 in three weeks. Had to upgrade hosting quick, which killed my profits for the first quarter. Tiered pricing saved me instead of flat subscriptions. Basic tier at $3 for essential alerts, premium at $12 with advanced filtering and faster notifications. Here’s the kicker - most revenue comes from middle tier users, not premium ones. Getting first paying customers meant proving consistent value for months. I tracked detailed metrics showing users exactly how much money my alerts saved them or helped them earn. User testimonials in telegram groups were huge for growth. Biggest mistake? No proper user analytics from day one. You’ve got to track what features people actually use vs what they claim they want. This data becomes critical when deciding what goes behind the paywall.