Sending video notes (circles) in a Telegram communication channel
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1. Introduction
Definition
Video notes (circles) are short circular videos up to 1 minute long in Telegram that play automatically inside the chat with the bot. A series of circles plays in sequence — you don't need to tap each one. They are used at the Engage stage of the customer lifecycle — wherever a personal appeal raises subscriber trust and engagement.
Video notes are a personal-appeal format exclusive to Telegram. Unlike ordinary video messages or text, circles are perceived by subscribers as the manager's personal voice — view conversion is higher. A circle can be added to the message constructor in three ways: by uploading a file from your device, by file ID from the Telegram server, or by link from a public Telegram channel.
B2B operator (content manager, marketer, salesperson) records the circle in Telegram on a smartphone, transfers the file/ID/link into the Leeloo.AI message constructor, and attaches it to the «Message» block in the tunnel. Used for welcome series, product explanations, FAQ answers, warm-up, and re-activation.
B2C client (Telegram subscriber) receives the circle in the chat with the bot — it plays automatically without tapping. A series of circles plays in sequence. The subscriber perceives the circle as a personal message from the manager, not as a mass broadcast — view conversion is higher than for ordinary video or text.
Circles are a Telegram-only format (Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp do not support them). When exporting to unsupported channels, the «Video note» block is not converted. Circle size depends on the method: by file — up to 2 MB (Leeloo limit); by ID or link — no size limit (the file from the Telegram server is used). In Client's Card, the fact of sending and reading by the subscriber is recorded like any other chat event.
After reading you will understand:
what video notes are and why they deliver high view conversion;
how to record a circle in Telegram on a smartphone;
how to add a circle to the message constructor — three ways;
when to pick each method (file / ID / link);
what the size and messenger-support limits are.
Purpose
Video notes are a tool for personal warm-up through Telegram's exclusive format. A single circle is perceived as a personal message from the manager, not as a mass broadcast — that builds trust and engagement.
Engage — welcome series after subscription with the manager's personal appeal, warm-up circles between text messages, product explanations, and FAQ answers in a one-on-one format. JTBD — stand out from the flood of standard broadcasts, give the subscriber a sense of personal contact with the team, and raise readiness for commercial communication.
2. Setup and usage overview
Using circles involves two stages: recording (see 2.1) and adding to the message constructor (2.2 — 2.5). The method depends on how often you reuse the circle and on size limits.
2.1. Recording a video note in Telegram
Open any chat in Telegram and hold the video record button. Release the button when finished. The recorded circle appears in the chat — you can work with it from there.
2.2. Adding to the message constructor
Open the constructor (available in tunnels, chats, and broadcasts), click «+Message» and select the type «Video note». Then choose one of three ways to add it.
2.3. Method 1 — Upload as a file
The simplest method — save the circle to your device and upload it.
In Telegram, press and hold the video note, select «Download» or «Save». Then in the constructor click «Upload file» and select the saved file.
2.4. Method 2 — By file ID
Useful when the file is already on the Telegram server and there is no size limit (relevant for long or heavy circles).
Send the video note to the chat with the bot that will deliver it. Open the same chat on the Leeloo.AI platform, click the menu next to the file, and select «Copy file ID». Paste the ID into the corresponding field in the constructor and save the message.
Important: the file ID is bot-specific. The video note will only be sent from the bot whose chat you uploaded the file to and where you copied the ID.
2.5. Method 3 — By link from a public channel
Useful when one video note needs to be used across multiple bots or tunnels.
Create a new Telegram channel, make it public, and add the bot that will deliver the circle. Send the video note to the channel, click the message menu, and select «Copy link to message». In the constructor, paste the link into the corresponding field and save.
Note: the channel is public — outsiders can find it. Give the channel a complex name that's hard to guess in search.
Related instructions
Instruction title | Purpose |
|---|---|
Message constructor — element types, settings, limits. | |
Telegram file ID — how to obtain and use. |
Key terms
Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
Video note (circle) | Short circular video up to 1 minute long in Telegram. Plays automatically inside the chat; a series plays in sequence. Telegram-only format. |
Message constructor | Editor that assembles content for the subscriber: text, images, video, buttons, video notes, and other elements. |
«Message» block | Blue block in the sales tunnel that contains the message assembled in the constructor and delivers it to the subscriber at the right moment. |
File ID | Unique identifier of a file on the Telegram server. Bot-specific: a video note added by ID can only be sent from the bot the file was uploaded to and the ID was copied from. |
Public Telegram channel | Channel with a public name, accessible by link to any user. Used as a container for storing a video note that needs to be sent from multiple bots. |
Bot binding | Restriction whereby a file (added by ID) can only be sent from the bot whose chat it was previously uploaded to. |
Client's Card | Centralized subscriber profile in Leeloo.AI that records the history of sent messages and events, including the sending and reading of a video note. |