About Matthew Hunter

What is your role at @ttention ventures?

My role is strategically developing and marketing both our online and off-line businesses, in order to best attract attention and retain customers.

What enticed you to join @ttention ventures?

The opportunity here is that there are a number of different online properties to work with, as opposed to one company or one business. Not to mention the incredible amount of talent the founders have amassed. It really is exciting to be involved with so much business and with so many great colleagues. I took this job because I see where they're going with it, and I have a lot of background in this specific industry. My involvement is valuable because I have background experience in online customer acquisition and retention.

What aspect of marketing do you find most fascinating?

The biggest change in the online marketing space over the last few years is in regard to online business models. Though there hasn't been a huge change in the scope of the Internet, niche markets have been the biggest, most distinctive change over the past 10 years. I've gravitated towards the niche sites, because when you really narrow it down to specifics, you can really interact with that target demographic better, and get better customer loyalty. Like with Televets.com, you're catering specifically to pet owners and their pet's health concerns. If something is already a good idea, it will be an even bigger success because you're targeting people so specifically. Becoming niche is the way to go.

What's the biggest challenge facing the marketer today?

Communication is the number one tool in achieving success, so if I'm able to communicate accurately or efficiently, the task gets done that much faster. Overall, with regard to the Internet, it is a faceless industry for the most part, so communication is vital. We haven't been able to perfect that yet, so that's simply a challenge we'll have to overcome.

What talent or unique trait do you bring to your role? What makes you excel at your work?

Being a user and fan of Internet applications. If you're avidly pursuing or using web services, you're participating with various online subcultures, which gives you a better understanding of how they work. So, if I'm actively participating with new and upcoming online business models, I'm also learning about the new experience and then I am able to converse with someone within the company, so that we can adapt to change and improve our company's overall products and services as well. You really have to experience these Internet subcultures to get a sense of how they use that application, what benefits they get out of it, if there's anything our customers can benefit from what has been built, and if we should apply it for the benefit of our customers.

Who is a role model for you?

The people at Google - Sergey Brin and Larry Page especially, but the talent they employ and the efficiencies they build. Not only have they been able to develop one of the Internet's greatest successes in their search engine, but they have been able to develop other successful ventures and web applications that give us incredible amounts of information in a timely manner. And with their juggernaut of cash, they've been able to purchase companies that fit in with their business model and building for the future. Speaking of, they're also very conscientious of the future, in building a better future for our children and children's children; they opened the Google Foundation, invest in green businesses, and help fund companies that are seeking to better our health. I guess I admire them because not only are they forward thinkers developing phenomenal technologies, but they're looking out for what I believe to be the good of the Internet, along with the good of mankind.