Domain name registrar NameCheap.com has decided to add some social media to their marketing mix and also spread some holiday cheer by giving away domains and hosting. From December 1st through December 25th, NameCheap will be giving away $17,000 worth of domain names and hosting packages. The giveaway involves an hourly trivia contest that the company will be holding at Twitter.com.  The hourly trivia contest requires any one wishing to participate sign up for a Twitter account, follow Namecheap and be the first to answer the questions. For more information on the contest check out the Namecheap site.

This seems like a great contest and an easy way to score free domains and hosting. There’s no cost to sign-up at Twitter and follow Namecheap.  While you are at Twitter don’t forget to follow Domain Name News too :)

Press release can be seen after the jump

NameCheap.com to Offer $17,000 Worth of Domains, Hosting and Transfers, Free on Twitter.com

NameCheap.com, a leading provider of domain names and web hosting, will be giving over $17,000 worth of domain names in the “Twitter Trivia Holiday GiveAway”. Up to three domain names, hosting packages or transfers will be given away each hour 24 hours a day from December 1st through December 25th.

In order to win a free domain name, hosting package or domain transfer, Twitter users simply have to answer a trivia question pertaining to the holiday season. The first users to answer correctly win. Like every domain or transfer at NameCheap.com, winners will also get free WhoisGuard Protection to keep their identity safe and a free Comodo PositiveSSL for more secured transactions online. The questions will start off easy and will progressively become more difficult. The Twitter user who answers the most questions correctly will also win an iPod Nano.

“NameCheap has always relied on word of mouth for marketing. We’ve always put our focus on creating an easy to use interface as well as partnering with other companies to make our offerings more attractive. Rather than launching huge SuperBowl ads, we’d rather use means like Twitter and Facebook to better interact personally with our new and existing clients. We’re confident that once people see our user control panel as well as get a free WhoisGuard subscription and SSL with us, they will make NameCheap.com their domain registrar of choice” said Richard Kirkendall, NameCheap’s CEO.

“I didn’t hear about NameCheap from an ad. I first heard about them in a web professionals’ Google Group. A company like NameCheap who relies on word of mouth marketing is a perfect candidate for social media. I’m glad Richard and his staff embraced the idea so freely. This contest was actually Richard’s idea and I think it’s a wonderful way to interact with and reward their clients” said Michelle Greer, NameCheap’s marketing consultant.

To participate in the Twitter Trivia Domain Name Giveaway, follow NameCheap at www.twitter.com/namecheap.

NameCheap is an ICANN accredited domain registrar founded in 2000 by Richard Kirkendall in Los Angeles, California. Millions of domains are registered, transferred and renewed at the site each year, making it one of the leading registrars in the world. Customer support is available 24/7 via LiveChat, Twitter, or the NameCheap HelpDesk.