diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/__tests__/verifyTelegramCode.test.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/__tests__/verifyTelegramCode.test.ts
index 6d64103e..c79032ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/__tests__/verifyTelegramCode.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/__tests__/verifyTelegramCode.test.ts
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ describe('verifyTelegramCode', () => {
     });
     expect(clearPendingCode).toHaveBeenCalledWith(thread);
     expect(thread.post).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.stringContaining('Welcome to In Process')
+      expect.stringContaining("You're all set")
     );
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/commands/handleStart.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/commands/handleStart.ts
index a55ec7f6..90b90ac5 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/commands/handleStart.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/commands/handleStart.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ const handleStart = async (
   artistUsername: string | null,
   telegramUsername: string
 ) => {
-  const text = `Hello ${artistUsername || telegramUsername}, welcome to In Process! Your telegram has been verified! You can now send photos and captions to post them on In Process.`;
+  const text = `Hello ${artistUsername || telegramUsername}, Your telegram has been connected! You can now send photos and captions to post them on In Process.`;
   await thread.post(text);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/connectTelegramToAccount.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/connectTelegramToAccount.ts
index c06a9392..15b69fca 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/connectTelegramToAccount.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/connectTelegramToAccount.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@ import selectWallets from '@/lib/supabase/in_process_wallets/selectWallets';
 import sendCodeHandler from '@/lib/oauth/sendCodeHandler';
 import clearPendingEmail from './clearPendingEmail';
 import setPendingCode from './setPendingCode';
-
-const INVALID_EMAIL_MESSAGE =
-  "That doesn't look like a valid email address. Please try again.";
-const CODE_SENT_MESSAGE =
-  "We've sent a 6-digit verification code to that email. Please reply with the code to confirm it's yours.";
+import {
+  TELEGRAM_INVALID_EMAIL_MESSAGE,
+  TELEGRAM_CODE_SENT_MESSAGE,
+} from './consts';
 
 async function connectTelegramToAccount(
   thread: Thread<TelegramThreadState>,
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ async function connectTelegramToAccount(
 ): Promise<void> {
   const result = telegramEmailSchema.safeParse(text);
   if (!result.success) {
-    await thread.post(INVALID_EMAIL_MESSAGE);
+    await thread.post(TELEGRAM_INVALID_EMAIL_MESSAGE);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ async function connectTelegramToAccount(
     username: artist?.username ?? null,
   });
   await clearPendingEmail(thread);
-  await thread.post(CODE_SENT_MESSAGE);
+  await thread.post(TELEGRAM_CODE_SENT_MESSAGE);
 }
 
 export default connectTelegramToAccount;
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/consts.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/consts.ts
index b0a1e07b..f1d2f891 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/consts.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/consts.ts
@@ -24,3 +24,23 @@ export const TELEGRAM_PENDING_CODE_TTL_MS = 10 * 60 * 1_000;
 
 /** Debounce window for batching media (real Telegram albums and synthesized ungrouped bursts). */
 export const MEDIA_GROUP_WINDOW_MS = 10_000;
+
+/** Shown when a Telegram user without a linked account sends any message. */
+export const TELEGRAM_NOT_CONNECTED_MESSAGE =
+  'Welcome to In Process! To get started, please reply with the email you use for In Process so we can connect your Telegram.';
+
+/** Shown when the reply to the email prompt isn't a valid email address. */
+export const TELEGRAM_INVALID_EMAIL_MESSAGE =
+  "That doesn't look like a valid email address. Please try again.";
+
+/** Shown after a verification code has been emailed, whether or not an artist was matched (avoids leaking which emails have an account). */
+export const TELEGRAM_CODE_SENT_MESSAGE =
+  "We've sent a 6-digit verification code to that email. Please reply with the code to confirm it's yours.";
+
+/** Shown when the reply to the code prompt is malformed or Privy rejects the code. */
+export const TELEGRAM_INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE =
+  "That code doesn't look right. Please check your email and try again.";
+
+/** Shown once a Telegram account is successfully connected, whether to an existing or newly created artist. */
+export const telegramConnectedMessage = (username: string | null) =>
+  `You're all set! Your Telegram is now connected to your In Process account${username ? ` (${username})` : ''}. You can now send photos, videos, or YouTube links to create moments.`;
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/__tests__/onNewMention.test.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/__tests__/onNewMention.test.ts
index 10d04353..6afb1e38 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/__tests__/onNewMention.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/__tests__/onNewMention.test.ts
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ describe('onNewMention', () => {
   it('delegates to commandsHandler and returns when handled', async () => {
     vi.mocked(commandsHandler).mockResolvedValue(true);
 
-    await capturedHandler!(makeThread(), makeMessage({ text: '/start' }));
+    await capturedHandler!(makeThread(), makeMessage({ text: '/remind' }));
 
     expect(processMediaThread).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ describe('onNewMention', () => {
     await capturedHandler!(thread, makeMessage({ text: 'random text' }));
 
     expect(thread.post).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      'Please send a photo or video with a caption.'
+      'To post moments, please send a photo or video along with a caption, or share a YouTube link.'
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/onNewMention.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/onNewMention.ts
index 78ab002d..9954b97f 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/onNewMention.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/handlers/onNewMention.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ export function registerOnNewMention(bot: TelegramChatBot) {
         return;
       }
 
-      await thread.post('Please send a photo or video with a caption.');
+      await thread.post(
+        'To post moments, please send a photo or video along with a caption, or share a YouTube link.'
+      );
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('[telegram-dm] onDirectMessage error:', error);
       await thread.post(`❌ something went wrong: ${error}`);
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/promptTelegramEmail.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/promptTelegramEmail.ts
index 1d1799de..db1419d1 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/promptTelegramEmail.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/promptTelegramEmail.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 import type { Thread } from 'chat';
 import type { TelegramThreadState } from './telegramThreadState';
 import setPendingEmail from './setPendingEmail';
-
-const NOT_CONNECTED_MESSAGE =
-  "We couldn't find an In Process account connected to this Telegram yet. To connect it, please reply with the email address you use for In Process.";
+import { TELEGRAM_NOT_CONNECTED_MESSAGE } from './consts';
 
 async function promptTelegramEmail(
   thread: Thread<TelegramThreadState>
 ): Promise<void> {
-  await thread.post(NOT_CONNECTED_MESSAGE);
+  await thread.post(TELEGRAM_NOT_CONNECTED_MESSAGE);
   await setPendingEmail(thread);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/telegram/chat/verifyTelegramCode.ts b/src/lib/telegram/chat/verifyTelegramCode.ts
index ce2dae9e..f970390f 100644
--- a/src/lib/telegram/chat/verifyTelegramCode.ts
+++ b/src/lib/telegram/chat/verifyTelegramCode.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,10 @@ import getOrCreateArtist from '@/lib/artists/getOrCreateArtist';
 import { upsertArtists } from '@/lib/supabase/in_process_artists/upsertArtists';
 import clearPendingCode from './clearPendingCode';
 import type { PendingCode } from './getPendingCode';
-
-const INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE =
-  "That code doesn't look right. Please check your email and try again.";
-const WELCOME_MESSAGE =
-  "Welcome to In Process! We've created your account and connected your Telegram. You can now send photos and videos to publish moments.";
+import {
+  TELEGRAM_INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE,
+  telegramConnectedMessage,
+} from './consts';
 
 async function verifyTelegramCode(
   thread: Thread<TelegramThreadState>,
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ async function verifyTelegramCode(
 ): Promise<void> {
   const result = telegramCodeSchema.safeParse(text);
   if (!result.success) {
-    await thread.post(INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE);
+    await thread.post(TELEGRAM_INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -33,12 +32,13 @@ async function verifyTelegramCode(
       result.data
     );
   } catch {
-    await thread.post(INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE);
+    await thread.post(TELEGRAM_INVALID_CODE_MESSAGE);
     return;
   }
 
   await clearPendingCode(thread);
 
+  const connectedMessage = telegramConnectedMessage(pending.username);
   if (!pending.artistId) {
     const walletAddress = await ensurePrivySocialWallet(authResult);
     const artist = await getOrCreateArtist({
@@ -46,14 +46,12 @@ async function verifyTelegramCode(
       type: 'privy',
     });
     await upsertArtists({ id: artist.artistId, telegram: telegramUsername });
-    await thread.post(WELCOME_MESSAGE);
+    await thread.post(connectedMessage);
     return;
   }
 
   await upsertArtists({ id: pending.artistId, telegram: telegramUsername });
-  await thread.post(
-    `You're all set! Your Telegram is now connected to your In Process account${pending.username ? ` (${pending.username})` : ''}. You can now send photos and videos to publish moments.`
-  );
+  await thread.post(connectedMessage);
 }
 
 export default verifyTelegramCode;