How do you use Orkut to build a successful network?

Why your friend requests get rejected but the same person accepts requests from others?

Whether you want life partners or business partners or looking for just friends in Orkut, there are some rules you have to follow.

This collection of tips have been provided by “Orkut Gurus” or “Orkut Poster Guys and Gals” who appear on the home page of Orkut.

1. Browse the communities.

I hate the spam group messages (I don’t advise to join communities!) but, it is an easy way to hunt for people who has similar interests like you.

And when you say, you are also interested in ‘Photography’ or ‘Martin Scorsese movies’ like me, it is hard to resist the urge to talk more about them. You can easily strike a conversation with common threads.

2. Fear NOT for scrapping.

Even when the profile says “Do not Scrap Me or Msg Me!” – Scrapping is your birthright.
Do NOT worry about how a person may think. Pass a genuine complement (other than, you look beautiful, i wanna be your friend, please etc).

Apart from scrapping a boring opening such as “Hi”, “Hi, I wanna be your friend!” or “Hi there!” – think outside the box. Have you ever seen the Orkut’s “Send Teaser” – lines?

Always, always, use names! “Hi Bob, hows your job hunt going?”, “Hey, Jenny, wonder if you have done with your exams” looks more personal than using a “Hows life going?” kind of blunt, pointless scraps.

3. Write a catchy Profile

Fill in all possible details. Be really funny (naughty but obscene). Update them often once in a month. Do not overuse adjectives to describe you (we wont believe you, anyway!).

4. Use your photo / video albums wisely

Now you can upload 12 photos (for privacy reasons keep them 640 by 480 max). Update them often. The videos are easy to update, when you watch something interesting on Youtube or Google video, just copy the link instantly and share it on your Orkut page.

4. Do NOT send friend requests

Yes. Do NOT add bluntly a new person as a friend (unless you know already). So, how do you add new friends. Easy. Just scrap and talk to them using scraps. Talk about common interests and things. A friend request will come soon.

5. Spend time reading other’s profiles

Everyone likes to be appreciated, so just give them what they need. Go through their profiles and interests and give a genuine complement on a thing that you like about the person. Be sincere.

6. Try to Choose diverse friends

Do NOT attempt to talk with people from the same community. There are plenty of communities available – even if you have no specific interests, you can find a range of communities based on country of birth, sunsign, name. Take part in the activities, participate in the community games.

7. Do not start asking personal questions right away.

Never ask personal questions such as love life, boy friend/ girl friend list etc. Just start talking about general things. At certain stage, after you have established a friendship bond, then you may ask (if you know they would tell you!). Respect privacy.

8. How do I keep them in my Orkut network?

Fill in as much information as possible. Now, in Orkut profile page, you can provide clickable weblinks – so, provide your Ziki , Flickr, Blog page (for god sake, do not give a dead blog’s address, please!) other social network pages such Facebook, Flixster, Digg, Delicious to give your friends where they can find you.

9. Find your old friends. Grow your network quickly.

You can search your past school, past work place, class mates groups in Orkut using proper keywords. When you find one old friend, you will find an old treasure of friends associated with them. I used such technique to uncover 100 friends in an hour or so.

10. Write testimonials.

Leaving aliens apart, everybody loves to hear what you think of them. Be creative in writing a testimonial. Get rid of overused adjectives such as caring, friendly, worrying, sexy etc. Just remember an anecdote, a story, an unforgettable event to describe your relationship with the person. You will love it and your friend will also love it. Hell, yes, they would certainly reward you with their best testimonial for you.

Your opinions are valuable. What do you think about these tips? If you have got any tips, add in comments section or email me.

Oh, I almost forgot, in case, if you want to talk to me in Orkut – this is my profile link.

P.S: Thanks to Anokh (link to orkut profile) who worked with me to collect a wonderful tips.