diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb1e8ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Telegram
+TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_telegram_bot_token_here
+
+# Spotify app credentials
+SPOTIFY_CLIENT_ID=your_spotify_client_id
+SPOTIFY_CLIENT_SECRET=your_spotify_client_secret
+SPOTIFY_REDIRECT_URI=http://localhost:8000/auth/spotify/callback
+SPOTIFY_DEFAULT_MARKET=NL
+
+# Optional: improves recommendation quality
+LASTFM_API_KEY=
+
+# App / API
+APP_ENV=dev
+APP_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8000
+APP_INTERNAL_URL=http://app:8000
+APP_PORT=8000
+APP_TIMEZONE=UTC
+TZ=UTC
+
+# Internal auth (used by optional cron -> internal endpoint)
+INTERNAL_JOB_TOKEN=change-me-to-a-random-secret
+
+# Storage
+DB_PATH=/data/app.db
+
+# Recommendation defaults
+DEFAULT_PLAYLIST_SIZE=30
+MIN_NEW_RATIO=0.8
+RECENT_DAYS_WINDOW=5
+PLAYLIST_VISIBILITY=private
+
+# Optional cron (only if you start the cron profile)
+CRON_SCHEDULE=15 2 * * *
+
+# Optional Traefik label host (used by docker-compose labels)
+TRAEFIK_HOSTNAME=spotify-vibe.example.com
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 86a4768..f3301c2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # Spotify Daily Vibe Bot (Telegram + Spotify + Docker)
 
+Telegram bot: https://t.me/spotify_vibe_bot (`@spotify_vibe_bot`)
+
 Ready-to-run backend service that:
 
 - connects to your Spotify account
@@ -39,6 +41,14 @@ For better recommendation quality, adding `LASTFM_API_KEY` is recommended.
 4. Copy `.env.example` to `.env` and fill in the values.
 5. Start:
 
+If you are using the provided `docker-compose.yml` as-is, create the external Docker network once (used by Traefik labels/network wiring):
+
+```bash
+docker network create web || true
+```
+
+Then start:
+
 ```bash
 docker compose up -d --build
 ```