Orkut is a social networking website owned by Google and was developed by Orkut Büyükkökten, who started to work on this website when working at Google.

Launched on January 22, 2004, initially the membership was allowed only by invitations and was famous in United States when it started, but with mouth publicity, Brazil has the most number of users and from 2007 onwards, it attracted large number of Indian users. At present Brazil and India were the countries which most members are present.

In US, Orkut is less popular than its competitors Facebook and MySpace.Initially this website was hosted and managed from California; Google later announced that it manages Orkut from Brazil. Orkut was available in 39 regional languages(as of now).

Development :

Orkut initially did not allow direct user registration only based on invitations from other users. On August, 2007 this website revamped its user interface.

In 2008, mobile version of this website was available at http://m.orkut.com . In 2008 Google added a new feature that allows users with slow internet connection to access it.

Current usage:

Orkut currently widely used in Brazil and India. Initially it has large user base in United States. Any user having Google account can use their account to use this social website. Due to the high impact of this website in India, it was released in 6 languages.

The maximum number of friends you can have on this website is 1000; if you reach this limit you will not be able to add new friends.

As of March, 2009, 49% of users are from Brazil and 17% are from India. Orkut users can upload photos into their profile. Videos can also be added using YouTube or Google Video. User chat is enabled and is integrated with GTalk. Orkut enables users to change themes to customize how their profile looks to others.

Orkut has more than 50% of its users under the age group below 25 years.

Future developments:

As of many Google products, Orkut can go pretty innovative in the future and may change the entire face of present social networking phenomenon.

Benefits to users:

Orkut has similar benefits as of other social networking websites, the primary theme of it is to keep its members in touch with your friends and also make new friends and show who you are to the world.

Members can share media content such as photos, videos to friends. Users can also join communities that discuss a common topic.

Members can embed their favorite videos from YouTube in the profile. With the privacy options you can enable your content to be seen only by your friends

Technical explanation:

To access this website services, you need to register with your email, user id and password. If you are having Google account, you need not sign up just login with your Google user id and password.

After registering, you need to set up your profile by providing basic information about you such as your hobbies, what you do, and education. You can optionally upload your photo in your profile.

You can join communities you like and also search for friends. Members can add a person as friend, a message to that user asking to confirm.

You can comment or leave a message to users through “Scrapbook”. Photos can be uploaded by creating albums. An album contains a set of photos and you can name album depending on the photos it contains. Friends can be searched from search feature offered.

Worldwide usage:

The user base of Orkut is mainly from Brazil and India. Initially the users are from US but due to increasing users from Brazil, the users from US switched to other social websites.

Brazilians form 49% of users and 17% are from India.

Content by Mark Anderson, Websites4results

When you think about it, there are only 2 things that people are looking for in Social Media. It does not matter if you are in real estate, mortgage banking, insurance, or even in marketing of some type. People are always looking for something.

You just need to make sure that you know what those things are.

Most people in the Social Media arena are progressive thinkers and progressive people. Most are ahead of the curve in the web 2.0 world, and most have a focus of being ahead of the pack. The early adopters of Social Media, which I am one, started on the Social media scene 5 years ago. There as not much there, but what was there, was used as best as it could be used.

People then, and people now, are still the same. They always will be. But in the Social media arena, they are looking for 2 things that will help them.

Help them feel better about whom they are. Help them feel better about what they do. And help them feel better about where their life is going. All people are in some way looking for that forward focus. That is why in the social scene, there are 2 things people seem to be seeking more than anything.

Only two.

1) CONNECTION.

Most people in Web 2.0 ville are looking for Connection. They want to connect with people, information, new ideas, new trainings, new events, new groups, new videos, but whatever they are looking for, they want to CONNECT.

Connection is part of the culture we grew up in. People in real estate understand the person want to feel emotionally connected to a house before they purchase it. People want to feel connected to a car before they decide to buy it. And people want to feel connected to something before they start building that bridge of trust with you. You must make an effort to connect in a way that they will respond to in social media.

IN Social Media Marketing, Connection is NOT Correction as so many people think. They are NOT looking to be told that their life is not any good, or is lacking. They are not looking to be told their home is too small for them. They want to Connect to something or someone that will make them feel better about themselves and where their life is headed. You do that in conversations on twitter, facebook, myspace, orkut, moli, LinkedIn, and the like.

They want to feel GOOD about a conversation with you, no matter the social network. They want to feel FOCUSED ON and Tied into a conversation that will help them feel more a part of something that can increase and enlarge their life and future.

CONNECTING with people is simply reaching out and taking their hand over the internet and letting them feel PLUGGED IN to something and someone that can help you connect to new possibilities and to new destinies.

THAT is simple and the truth. Keep the Connection authentic and real, and they will listen to what your conversation is about and start drawing closer to you and your message.

2) Elevation.

People want to feel like they are being lifted higher in their life. They want to feel like their life is going somewhere and means something. We all do. We all are looking for that special feeling that we are special, and as trite as that sounds, it is the truth.

What can you do to create that feeling that they truly believe they are walking on air?

Life them up by noticing something g they said that has helped you.

Compliment them.

Give them a kind remark about their efforts in what they are doing in Social Media.

Ask questions they might know the answer to show you appreciate their knowledge..

Send them new ideas on their passion.

Notice something about their conversation that you can totally appreciate and let them know about it.

Empower them with encouragement.

Thank them for learning something from them.

WHY?

It will make them glad they talked to you in Social Media. And they will remember you the next message, tweet, or conversation. They will move from the Awareness stage, to the Appreciation stage in Social Media.

As a realtor, you will see that they can start to trust you, and even start referring possible clients to you as people they know are moving out or into – your area.

Remember- it is NOT what you said. But how you made them feel by Connecting with them and Elevating their hope and future in the Social media Marketing arena.

blessings…doug