Albert Popkov: "I created Odnoklassniki.ru"

 This is a story about a man and the website "Odnoklassniki.ru"

"Odnoklassniki.ru" - a social network that works to search for your classmates or just friends or loved ones. The project site "Odnoklassniki.ru" was launched in the early spring of 2006, and for only about two years in the social network were registered more than 9 million people. Creator and co-owner of the site is Albert Popkov, and as a consultant and lead designer of the project was Dmitri Utkin. 

Social network «odnoklassniki.ru» earned in I quarter of 2008 on advertising more than 3 million dollars for the full year revenues of about 25-30 million. The investment company "Finam", which is the owner of online dating "Mamba" believe in "Classmates" already invested from 3 to 4 million. At the same time, some experts believe that the equipment is ready to ensure a smooth and harmonious work site «odnoklassniki.ru» with the speedy growth of the audience must do "classmates" in the amount of from 7 to 10-million dollars.

Family Albert Popkov, founder of the social network "Odnoklassniki.ru" moved to Moscow in 1978. In college Popkov enrolled in 16 years, and in parallel with studies combined work as a programmer. Then Popkov was developing Soviet gaming computers "Corvette." Initially, the 90 Popkov worked dryer pencil boards, and, like many sold on the market. Later, in 1995, Popkov fortunate to develop sites for the American companies, including such well-known companies as «Canon» and «Simon & Schuster Publishing».

Here is what he says Albert Popkov of the times - "I am not a model student. Did not finish school, he left after the eighth grade. Worked as a salesman in a stall, the builder and even drier pencil boards for pencil factory. Initially, the 90 traded in "Luzhniki" batteries, but then I realized that it was not mine, and do what he likes - in programming. But then the people of this profession paid a little, that has to turn. "

In 2000, he signed a one year contract Popkov and went to England and worked there until 2005, then returned to Russia. Albert Popkov was involved in the creation of a social network "Passado," as well as such as call centers «192.com» and "118118."

Popkov began to develop his then-amateur draft in 2000 for its own account and in his spare time, and launched it in 2006. According to himself Popkov, a project of his own pocket, he invested several hundred thousand dollars.

Here is what the company Anton Nosik «SUP Fabrik» about the project "Odnoklassniki.ru» - «« Odnoklassniki.ru »- this is an interesting testing ground. He gives us a lot about the Russian Internet and its users, and the potential of social networks.Important fact: "Classmates", in contrast to a similar resource "VKontakte" are not identical clones of foreign prototypes to the last comma. It is "very Russian" product is one hundred percent in demand in all age and gender groups. One of my contacts in that service - Jerusalem single mom and CEO of the largest Moscow media holding.Something it is felt in people somehow managed to unite diverse audiences. And most probably the main thing - when five million people out there still have not needed a mechanism to protect against aggression. Such international practice does not know "- said Anton Nosik -" Every page "Schoolmates" hanging five advertisements - one upper horizontal banner and four text ads «Google AdSense». According to «Top.Mail.ru», in October of this year, "Classmates" showed 1.9 billion pages. This is more than double increase compared to September and six in comparison with the best performance over the summer. In the first week of November «Odnoklassniki» showed 473.5 million pages - three times the monthly rate for April and 13 times higher when compared with the month of month "- says Anton Nosik - If" classmates "do not sell modular advertising and limited to two contextual "affiliate" and would sell its wholesale area, say, one dollar per thousand impressions, and even then they were in the first week of November would earn 547,000 dollars, and for a month - 2.2 million. But I can not imagine that the top banner was sold «Nissan» for less than $ 15 per thousand impressions. So consider. "

It is worth noting that in 2007 presented "classmates" in place of "people's top ten" "Runet Awards."

Social network "Odnoklassniki" will help everyone to find their friends, with whom you once had missed in life, and know what they were doing, and how they live. Users of the site "Odnoklassniki.ru" have the ability to send instant messages to those with whom they once lost touch, to organize a meeting with them, or just talk about yourself. The project site "Odnoklassniki.ru" began in early spring of 2006, in March, and is not just for the audience Russia and on Russian citizens abroad.

"Classmates" is one of the largest social networks in runet and rightfully belong to the top 10 most visited websites in Russia.

Every day, users of the site «odnoklassniki.ru» million messages are exchanged, and joyfully share on forums and news on their blogs how they can easily find old friends.Each day of the site «odnoklassniki.ru» receives many letters of thanks for your project.