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TESTOSTERONE
With the Valentine's Day relaunch of Maxim Online (www.maximmag.com), the site joined a locker room full of towel-snapping Web destinations for today's Real Man. Led by print-to-Web outfits like Playboy.com, these portals aim to occupy the space where sex and shopping meet in breathless synergy. Here's a rubdown - uh, rundown - of the Web's manliest sites, where the ecommerce is always sexy and the content is very, very sticky.
Site Maxim Online www.maximmag.com
Online audience 800,000 unique visitors per month
In a nutshell "Sex, sports, beer, gadgets, clothes, fitness"
Sexiest ecommerce offering De Beers diamond rings
Stickiest content Girlfriend of the Day
Why they're different Keith Blanchard, creative director: "Because Maxim is a force in men's publishing, we get access to a lot of girls the other sites don't. And we're not at all associated with pornography."
Site Playboy.com www.playboy.com
Online audience 1,128,000 unique visitors per month
In a nutshell "Entertainment for men"
Sexiest ecommerce offering Centerfold Cinnabar demi-bra and thong
Stickiest content Big Breasts or Bust?
Why they're different Christie Hefner, Playboy Enterprises chair and CEO: "People know that when Playboy throws a party, it will be an incredible event they don't want to miss."
Site Sexbuzz.com www.sexbuzz.com
Online audience 223,000 unique visitors per month
In a nutshell "The ultimate men's entertainment magazine"
Sexiest ecommerce offering (Ecommerce in the works)
Stickiest content Sexual Fantasies
Why they're different Dimitrios Tsopanakis, editor in chief: "We know that everyone has different needs, and we are covering all walks of a man's life - from sex to fitness to entertainment and technology."
Site Rouze.com www.rouze.com
Online audience 342,634 unique visitors per month
In a nutshell "Unapologetically male"
Sexiest ecommerce offering Sex Tips for Straight Women From a Gay Man
Stickiest content Pajama Party Insider
Why they're different Allen Blankenship, CEO: "Our models are more like the girl next door, more accessible to the reader. And we're taking the top off."
Site TheMan.com www.theman.com
Online audience Not released
In a nutshell "Life just got easier"
Sexiest ecommerce offering Sensual Massage Oil Kit
Stickiest content Ten Great Date Rental Movies
Why they're different Calvin Lui, CEO: "Most men's sites tailor to the very basic ideas of sex - boobs and beer. We want people to find out how to get things done."
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