20 Apr Google And Hostgator: $100 Google Adwords Free Offer Envelope Marketing

As many of you know, I am a HostGator.com fan.  They have powered many of my sites for years now.  I used to be a major advocate for a local Atlanta web hosting company, and sent them plenty of checks.  However, since their service went down the tubes, I have found the service, expertise, and quality of Hostgator to be tremendous.  I hope they don’t get too big too fast. Now, Hostgator Partners With Google Adwords to push their Marketing Channel

At any rate, I received the following two offers by mail.  They have evidently partnered with Google in order to introduce Google Adwords to their client base.  I see that this is a trend through many hosting companies and makes sense right?  You build a site and now you need marketing.

What was interesting, is their A/B Mailing test, that many of us would not have seen.  I did get to see this as my son has his own Hostgator server 🙂  So he was mailed the offer that I was, just in a different format.  I wanted to share this with you.

Honestly, both formats of their mailing was VERY compelling to me.  I may be biased though, as a marketer, since I know the value of the offers. But, my goal here is to show you the outer marketing vehicle, (the envelopes) and not so much as to dissect the specifics of the offer.

Envelope 1:

Observations:

• A strong FREE offer backed by limited time usage.  Also, the offer lessens in value in by stated date.
• Customized coupon with recipient’s name.
• Strong association of Hostgator.com, with their partner Google.  This adds major credibility and is a great symbiotic relationship.

Envelope 2:

Observations:

• Less customization of offer, but offset by an eye-catching image of “trapped customers” .  Definitely a reason to open the envelope.
• Cool call to action, “set them free with this advertising offer from Google”, based on envelope’s “hero” image
• On the back of the envelope, (although not seen here), was this statement “Why keep all those customers waiting?  Go for the Google offer inside this envelope”

As a marketer, I knew the value of both of these offers.  I think that with both envelopes, Google and Hostgator did a great job in marketing this offer.  I would say that both of these surely stood out, as compared to the junk mail offers I normally get.

For  those of you who didn’t get the offer, I think this is a great method of a mixed Interactive Marketing approach.

1. A great offline offer for online service
2. An easy signup process on the landing page suggested in the offer
3. A coupon code with specific instructions inside the envelope for a No contract usage.  Use it and quit if you needed to

Got to love it!

What do you think?