GirlsAskGuys.com — relationship site really IS a labor of love
Ever wondered why guys never talk about the mushy stuff and girls always want to? Or why guys think girls want them to be mind-readers? Or why girls think guys want them to spit it out if they have a problem?
So did Jen Heil. And so did her boyfriend, Tolga Tanriseven. They are among the founders of GirlsAskGuys.com, a web site that’s operated out of University City and has blossomed in popularity since its launch in March 2007.
The site requires free registration to participate. And the content? Well, it’s all generated by the readers who ask — and answer — each others questions. Two full-time moderators — the only paid staff — watch for abuse and keep the vile stuff off-line.
“You ask and answer questions and we’ve been very impressed with how our members are willing to help each other,” Heil said. “It’s a very caring community. It’s not a dating site per se, but it’s helping you answer how you’re navigating your dating life.”
So you end up with stuff like, “I think I may be pregnant by my boyfriend and I am p***ed off. What do I do?“
Within a half-hour, two answers are posted — one from a guy, one from a girl.
Since the site launched, it has gone from zero to 15,000 members, 200,000 visitors and 1 million page views a month. “What surprised me: We have over 100 questions a day and 600 to 700 answers,” Heil said. “People will be on the site for two or three hours a day because they enjoy it.”
The site breaks down its categories into Flirting, Dating, Relationships, Sexuality, Break-Up, Behavior, Style and Other. “One of the areas we’re changing: We’re trying to be a little more conservative in the sexuality area. Don’t want to go into details in the sexuality area. It’s attracting people we don’t want in that area.”
Who is using it? About 60 percent of the members are female, 40 percent male. Guys ask about 35 percent of the questions. Answers seem to be about even, Heil says. About 80 percent of the members are 34 or younger.
Oh, and the URL “GuysAskGirls.com” gets you to the same place, by the way.



Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor.
Awesome idea. I like the idea a lot.