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AskMen is a free online men's web portal, with international versions in Australia, Canada, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is owned by Ziff Davis and operates through the IGN Entertainment unit.

Key Information

History

[edit]

AskMen was founded in August 1999 by Ricardo Poupada, Christopher Bellerose Rovny and Luís Rodrigues (all three graduates of Concordia University's John Molson School of Business in Montreal, Canada). The company secured $500,000 in venture capital in 2000 while its main competitor, TheMan.com, obtained $17 million in financing from Highland Capital. In November 2000, TheMan.com shut down operations, providing an opportunity for AskMen to become the largest men's lifestyle website online.[1] By 2001, AskMen surpassed the other websites in its category to become the largest men's lifestyle website.[2] In 2005, it was acquired by IGN.[3]

In December 2009, the site had an estimated 12 million unique visitors.[4]

Print

[edit]

In May 2007 AskMen launched a three-book series published by HarperCollins, starting with a book titled From the Bar to the Bedroom.[5]

References

[edit]
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AskMen

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AskMen is an online men's publication and website that provides editorial content and advice aimed at helping men improve various aspects of their lives, including , relationships, fitness, , grooming, , and . Launched in August 1999 in , , by a group of graduates, it quickly grew into a prominent digital platform competing with print magazines like Maxim and FHM. The site's , "Become a Better Man," encapsulates its mission to deliver practical, engaging articles, lists, and features tailored to a global male audience. Originally an independent venture, AskMen was acquired by IGN Entertainment in June 2005, expanding its reach through integration with gaming and entertainment networks. In 2013, Ziff Davis acquired IGN Entertainment, bringing AskMen under its digital media portfolio, which focuses on technology, gaming, and lifestyle content. Under Ziff Davis ownership, AskMen has continued to evolve, launching international editions in regions such as the Middle East, India, Benelux, and Greece by 2014, and maintaining active content production as of 2025 with annual awards like the Dating Awards for relationship products. The platform emphasizes user-friendly formats such as top-10 lists, expert interviews, and multimedia features to address modern men's interests in a straightforward, non-judgmental tone.

History

Founding

AskMen was founded in August 1999 by Ricardo Poupada, Christopher Bellerose Rovny, and Luís Rodrigues, all graduates of Concordia University's in , . The idea emerged from the founders' observations of young men's needs for practical guidance in a burgeoning digital age, initially conceptualized while they were still in school. The site officially launched on August 23, 1999, with approximately 40 articles across eight channels focused on men's lifestyle topics. It became an official company on January 1, 2000, when the founders brought on full-time employees to expand operations. That same year, secured $500,000 in initial funding from angel investors to support its development, a modest amount compared to competitors but sufficient to bootstrap the venture. The early vision centered on creating an online platform offering actionable advice for men aged 18-34 on , , , finances, and , emphasizing expert responses to user-generated questions in response to the internet's growing accessibility. This approach drove rapid growth, achieving profitability within 13 months and establishing AskMen as the largest men's website by 2001.

Expansion and Acquisitions

Following its launch in 1999, AskMen experienced rapid growth in the mid-2000s, establishing itself as a leading online destination for men's content. By 2004, the site was averaging approximately seven million unique monthly visitors, driven by strong and expanding editorial offerings. In January 2005, it reported 5.1 million unique visitors and 58 million page views, according to Media Metrix data. Amid this expansion, AskMen's founders sought additional funding to support further scaling, leading to sale negotiations by as the company had become profitable but resource-constrained. In June 2005, IGN Entertainment acquired AskMen for $13.5 million, integrating it into 's portfolio of male-focused digital properties. This acquisition enhanced AskMen's distribution and resources while preserving its independent editorial voice. Operational growth continued with the launch of international editions to broaden its global audience. By the early , localized versions had rolled out for , , the , and the . In 2014, additional editions launched for , , and . These tailored content to regional preferences while maintaining core lifestyle focus. In 2019, marking its 20th anniversary, AskMen reflected on its evolution from a Montreal-based startup to a major digital brand through retrospective features highlighting changes in , , and cultural trends over two decades. As of 2025, AskMen operates under , sustaining relevance through ongoing initiatives like its annual Dating Awards and Guy Gear Awards, which recognize innovations in relationships and men's products.

Content and Format

Core Topics and Advice

AskMen's core topics revolve around key aspects of men's lifestyle, providing guidance tailored to men navigating personal and social challenges. The primary categories include and relationships, fitness and , grooming and style, and . In and relationships, content emphasizes practical tips on approaching women, building connections, and understanding modern masculinity, such as identifying qualities women seek in partners like passion, , and patience. Articles also cover relationship dynamics, including early discussions on time management, finances, future visions, and signs of lasting compatibility. Fitness and health sections focus on actionable workouts and strategies to support physical . Workouts include routines for , cardio, and muscle building, often presented as concise 30-minute plans suitable for busy schedules. advice highlights balanced diets, protein-focused meals, and supplements to achieve fitness goals without overwhelming complexity. Grooming and style content offers product reviews and fashion recommendations, stressing sustainable and everyday-applicable choices like eco-friendly skincare, haircare, and oral products from brands such as Eir NYC and . covers pop culture elements like movie reviews, music trends, gadgets, and gear, helping men stay informed on pursuits that align with their interests. The advice format blends expert-written articles, user-submitted Q&A via the guyQ platform, and step-by-step how-to guides, all designed for relatability among young men. Expert articles draw from coaches and professionals to deliver structured insights, such as conducting a "dating audit" through self-reflective questions on personal goals and patterns. GuyQ functions as a community-driven forum where users pose real-life questions on topics like detection or relationship milestones, receiving peer and expert responses in a conversational style. How-to guides provide sequential instructions, from first-date planning to grooming routines, ensuring accessibility for beginners. Over time, AskMen's topics have evolved from a 2000s emphasis on traditional "manliness"—exemplified by features like "From the Bar to the Bedroom," which explored social-to-intimate transitions through emotional reserve and assertive behaviors—to a 2020s focus on inclusivity, incorporating mental health, economic pressures, and shifting gender roles. Contemporary content addresses how men can dismantle harmful masculinity norms, promoting emotional awareness and adaptability in modern society. This shift reflects broader societal changes, with articles now tackling vulnerabilities like financial stress and redefined roles without stigmatizing openness. AskMen maintains a unique angle through its practical, humorous tone, steering clear of heavy self-help rhetoric in favor of real-world applicability. Advice often incorporates light-hearted commentary to engage readers, such as witty remarks on everyday mishaps in grooming or , making complex topics feel approachable and less intimidating. This style underscores actionable steps over abstract theory, positioning the content as a straightforward resource for men's daily improvement.

Special Features and Awards

AskMen has developed several annual awards programs to recognize excellence in products and services relevant to men's lifestyles, with a focus on reader input and expert testing to highlight emerging trends. The Dating Awards, now in their fourth edition as of 2025, spotlight the best apps, services, and products for enhancing romantic and relational experiences, such as top dating platforms like and for their user-friendly matching algorithms and safety features. Similarly, the Fitness Awards 2025 evaluate nearly 200 categories of gear, including standout home gym equipment like the Tonal smart home gym system for its adaptive capabilities and the Commercial 1750 treadmill for versatile cardio options. These awards, which trace their roots to specialized recognitions launched in the such as the Watch Awards, aim to guide consumers by combining editorial reviews with community feedback. In addition to awards, AskMen produces themed content series that reflect on societal shifts in , often incorporating user polls and expert insights. The 2024 retrospective "25 Ways Manhood & Have Changed Since 1999," marking the site's 25th , explores transformations like the normalization of emotional and the rise of inclusive grooming routines, drawing from historical analysis and reader surveys. Complementing this, the article "Here Are 5 Ways (We Think) Will Evolve in the Next 25 Years" offers projections to 2049, predicting trends such as greater paternal involvement, eco-conscious lifestyles, and a potential divide between progressive and regressive masculinities, informed by cultural experts and ongoing user polls on gender roles. These series position AskMen as a thoughtful observer of evolving identity. Interactive elements further enhance user involvement, including integrations with online communities like the r/AskMen subreddit for discussing lived experiences and video content on the official YouTube channel, such as the 2021 series addressing quirky reader-submitted queries on topics from dating dilemmas to personal grooming. These features foster dialogue and have boosted engagement, establishing AskMen as a key cultural commentator on contemporary masculinity through millions of annual views across platforms.

Ownership and Operations

Corporate Ownership

AskMen was founded as an independent startup in 1999 by co-founders Ricardo Poupada and Christopher Rovny, along with Luis Rodrigues, in , , operating autonomously until its acquisition by IGN Entertainment in June 2005 for $13.5 million. AskMen was acquired by IGN Entertainment in June 2005. Later that year, in September, News Corporation acquired IGN, integrating AskMen into its growing portfolio of digital media properties focused on entertainment and lifestyle content. Following this, AskMen experienced no direct sales or major restructurings specific to the brand, though its parent company IGN Entertainment was sold by News Corporation to in February 2013 for an undisclosed amount estimated below its prior valuation. Since 2013, AskMen has been owned by , Inc., a New York-based and company publicly traded on (ZD), and operates as part of the Entertainment unit within 's and entertainment division. This affiliation positions AskMen alongside other properties like and , contributing to a broader ecosystem of , gaming, and men's content that reaches over 100 million unique users monthly. In 2019, further consolidated its holdings by acquiring AskMen.com Solutions , a related entity focused on digital solutions and operations. Post-acquisition, the original founders stepped back from day-to-day operations, with Poupada remaining involved in roles at AskMen for several years before transitioning to other ventures by 2017; he served as CEO of AskMen.com Solutions , which reported approximately $2.3 million in annual revenue in 2021. Current operations are overseen by executives, including CEO Vivek Shah, who has led the company since 2010 and emphasized expansion in portfolios. Initially structured as a Canadian-based entity in , AskMen's legal and operational focus has shifted to a U.S.-centric model under Ziff Davis's headquarters in , aligning with the parent's global digital infrastructure while retaining some Canadian operational ties through acquired subsidiaries.

Business Model and Reach

AskMen operates as a free-access digital platform, relying on and as its primary revenue streams. Display ads and sponsored content from brands, such as dating apps and products, form the core of its strategy, integrated within Ziff Davis's broader ad network for enhanced scalability and reach. Additionally, affiliate partnerships enable commissions through product recommendation links, particularly for grooming, style, and health items, without requiring user subscriptions. The platform targets men aged 18-34, with its audience predominantly male (65%) and the 25-34 age group comprising the largest segment. Historically, AskMen attracted over 12 million unique monthly visitors, though recent data indicates a more modest reach of approximately 190,000 monthly visits as of late 2025, reflecting shifts in digital consumption patterns. It maintains a strong presence in while offering regional adaptations for international markets, contributing to 6.8 million annual global page views and 1.6 million followers. In 2025, AskMen continues active digital publishing under , producing timely content such as the annual Dating Awards, which highlight top apps and services to engage users with current trends. This integration with 's operations supports efficient content distribution and ad optimization across its portfolio. AskMen faces challenges from intensified competition with platforms, which fragment audience attention and reduce traditional traffic to publisher sites in the . To adapt to post-2020 digital shifts, it has emphasized mobile-first content and video formats to sustain engagement amid evolving user behaviors.

Publications

Digital Platform

AskMen.com has served as the primary digital hub for the platform since its launch in late 1999, initially established as a Montreal-based online destination for men's lifestyle content. The website features structured sections dedicated to articles on topics such as dating, health, style, career advice, entertainment, and technology, alongside dedicated areas for videos and interactive elements. This organization allows users to navigate core content streams efficiently, with multimedia integrations like embedded videos enhancing the reading experience. A key component of user engagement on AskMen.com is the guyQ Q&A platform, which provides searchable archives of community-submitted questions and expert responses on subjects ranging from relationships to . Users can post queries, browse historical threads, and receive advice from a network of contributors, fostering an interactive forum-like environment within the site's ecosystem. Newsletter subscriptions further boost retention, with options like The Daily Dispatch delivering curated stories on , dating, grooming, and deals directly to inboxes. Social media integration is seamless, enabling easy sharing of articles to platforms including , , and communities such as r/AskMen, which amplifies content distribution and user discussions. The platform's technological evolution reflects broader shifts in digital media, transitioning from a basic HTML-based site in its early years to a modern content management system (CMS) following its 2005 acquisition by IGN Entertainment, now part of Ziff Davis. This upgrade incorporated advanced features like multimedia hosting, including a dedicated YouTube channel that produces series on fitness tips, style guides, and lifestyle hacks, with regular video uploads to engage mobile audiences. By 2013, AskMen.com underwent a comprehensive redesign emphasizing responsive web design, ensuring optimal viewing and functionality across desktops, tablets, and smartphones without compromising ad placements or content layout. Accessibility remains a of the digital platform, offering all content free of charge while supported by advertisements integrated non-intrusively into the . Regional adaptations enhance global reach, with localized versions such as those for the (uk.askmen.com) providing tailored articles and features to international audiences in markets including , , the , and the . This ad-supported, freely accessible model has sustained AskMen.com's position as a go-to online resource for men's advice since its inception. In May 2007, AskMen entered the print media space through a partnership with HarperCollins to launch a three-book series aimed at providing practical advice for men on relationships, style, and lifestyle topics. The inaugural title, AskMen.com Presents From the Bar to the Bedroom: The 11 Rules for Picking Up and Pleasuring Women, was released on May 29, 2007, compiling dating and seduction tips originally featured on the website. This 240-page volume focused on building confidence, conversation skills, and physical intimacy strategies, structured around 11 key rules. The series continued with the second book, AskMen.com Presents The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe, published on September 4, 2007, which adapted online fashion and grooming articles into guidance on personal presentation and wardrobe essentials. The third and final installment, AskMen.com Presents The Guy's Guide to Romance: The 11 Rules for Finding a Woman & Making Her Happy, appeared on February 12, 2008, offering long-term relationship advice drawn from site content, including tips on commitment and partnership dynamics. Each book repurposed popular digital articles into themed, accessible guides, emphasizing actionable lifestyle insights rather than exhaustive narratives, and was produced as a limited run without subsequent editions or expansions. Unlike traditional men's magazines, AskMen never developed a full print periodical edition, instead limiting its physical outputs to these tie-ins as extensions of its online presence. Post-2008, the platform maintained a primarily digital focus, with no further publications or special print editions identified. As of 2025, AskMen has no active print operations, having fully shifted emphasis to its web-based content and multimedia formats.

References

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