Welcome messages greet each new member automatically with text you write. Add inline buttons, and let the greeting auto-delete after a while so it never piles up in the feed. It is separate from verification, so you can welcome people, verify them, or both. Off until you switch it on.
Want to set this up? Do it right in your Telm account.
Open in your dashboard1What it does
When enabled, the bot posts your greeting every time someone joins. It is the first thing new members see and a natural place to point them at your rules, pinned posts or a getting-started link.
The greeting is separate from any verification step. You can welcome people, verify them, or both, and the two never get in each other's way.
2Why a good welcome matters
First impressions set the tone of a community. A newcomer who is greeted by name and shown where the rules live is far more likely to read them, behave and stick around than one who lands in silence.
A welcome message also quietly signals that the group is actively run. That alone puts off low-effort spammers, who prefer chats that look abandoned, and it reassures real people that someone is paying attention.
3Customizing the text
Write anything you like in the welcome field, and keep it short and useful. A one-line greeting plus a link to the rules works far better than a wall of text nobody reads.
A greeting that mentions the new member by name makes the group feel more human. Aim to answer three questions in a newcomer's mind: where am I, what are the rules, and what should I do first.
5Auto-delete
In busy groups, greetings can clutter the feed, especially when many people join in a short time. Auto-delete removes the welcome message after a set time so the chat stays tidy while newcomers still see it on arrival.
6Typical setups
How you use the welcome message depends on the size and purpose of your group.
- Rules-heavy community: a short greeting plus a Read the rules button, with auto-delete off so the message stays visible.
- High-traffic public chat: a one-line greeting with auto-delete after a minute or two to keep the feed clean.
- Product or support group: a greeting with buttons to the FAQ, documentation and a way to open a ticket.
- Onboarding-focused group: pair the welcome with a verification step so the first thing a newcomer does is prove they are human.
7Best practices
The most effective welcomes are short, specific and paired with the right follow-up.
- Lead with a warm one-line greeting, then one clear call to action such as reading the rules.
- Use buttons instead of pasting long links into the text.
- Enable auto-delete in any group where more than a handful of people join per hour.
- Combine the welcome with a verification step so newcomers are both greeted and screened.
8Where to configure
Open your group in the dashboard, go to New members, and use the Welcome message card to turn it on, write the text, add buttons and set auto-delete.
To also screen newcomers on join, combine welcomes with captcha or new member restrictions. For a richer onboarding flow with follow-up actions, see the welcome flow.