For Immediate Release
American Land Title Association Announces Winners of Title Webbie Awards
Washington, DC, October 22, 2019 — The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, has announced the winners of the Title Webbies, an awards program recognizing member companies that have created or redesigned the best title industry consumer-facing website or page within the past year.
The two Title Webbies were presented during ALTA ONE, the largest annual event for the land title insurance industry, currently being held Oct. 22-25 in Austin. Nominees in the two categories—Best Website-Title Agents and Best Website-Underwriters—were judged on mobile friendliness, overall user experience, social-media integration, image/video use and content quality.
Commerce Title in Baton Rouge and Prairieville, La., was the winner in the Best Website-Title Agents category. Marketing Coordinator Katie Wilcox accepted the award on the company’s behalf.
“A website homepage has the ability to say so much about a business and a brand, and we wanted to take advantage of that and create something that gave the best first impression possible of our company to any potential customers,” Wilcox said. “Our intention was to immediately and attractively communicate through our website that even though homebuying can be an intimidating process, our ultimate goal at Commerce Title is to make the closing as easy and enjoyable as a piece of cake.”
Additionally, Commerce Title’s homepage gives consumers the impression that their closing is going to be a smooth celebration. The website’s language reassures consumers that Commerce Title has their closing under control. The website also provides consumers with easy access to title insurance data as well as contact information for every single person in the office.
Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., which has offices across the United States, was chosen as the Best Website-Underwriters winner. Right out of the gate, Old Republic’s homepage establishes a strong message: “We serve our policyholders with strength, stability and more than a century of experience.” The homeowner section is easy to find and packed with useful information broken up into palatable bites.
“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Carolyn Monroe, president of Old Republic National Title Holding Company. “The redesign and update of our website was a group effort between our marketing department and our operations. Our new website represents a small piece of the projects that we have in progress. The culture of collaboration is alive and well as we strive to better serve our agents and customers.”
Mark Bilbrey, CEO of Old Republic Title, accepted the award during ALTA ONE.
“In the past, the title insurance industry has focused on selling our services to our professional partners, but now consumers are increasingly choosing who they work with throughout the entirety of the real estate transaction,” said ALTA CEO Diane Tomb. “A fresh, informative and engaging website can make all the difference as it often is the first impression a consumer has of any company. It is incredibly important to ensure consumers understand what happens during the closing process as well as the benefits of title insurance. Congratulations to Commerce Title and Old Republic on earning these well-deserved awards.”
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About ALTA
The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing the land title insurance industry, which employs more than 120,000 people working in every county in the United States. More than two-thirds of ALTA’s 6,400 member companies are considered small businesses. ALTA members conduct title searches, examinations and closings and issue title insurance that protects real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles.
Connect with ALTA on Facebook here. Follow ALTA on Twitter here.
Contact: Megan Hernandez
Office: 202-261-0315
Email: mhernandez@alta.org
For Immediate Release
American Land Title Association Announces Winners of Title Webbie Awards
Washington, DC, October 8, 2020 — The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, has announced the winners of the 2020 Title Webbies, an awards program recognizing member companies that have created or redesigned the best title industry consumer-facing website or page within the past year.
The Title Webbie award winners were honored during ALTA ONE, the largest annual event for the land title insurance industry, currently being held Oct. 6-8 online as a virtual event. Nominees in two categories—Best Website-Title Agents and Best Website-Underwriters—were judged on mobile friendliness, overall user experience, social-media integration, image/video use and content quality. New this year, ALTA awarded a third Title Webbie—the #GoodDeeds Award—recognizing a company’s connection to its community through a social media campaign.
ATG Title in Fairfax, Va., won the Best Website-Title Agents category. On its new website, ATG Title focuses on providing information to educate consumers. Six tabs in the homeowner section highlight the purpose and benefits of title insurance, a step-by-step breakdown of the closing process, ways to save on closing costs, resources for more information on buying a home, information on ALTA Best Practices and standards and a real estate glossary.
“The main goal of our website is to educate the consumer on the cumbersome and confusing title and closing process in simple and clear language a fifth grader can understand,” said Mo Choumil, founder and CEO of ATG Title. “We collaborate writing original content by professional copywriters explaining all the aspects of closing, settlement and escrow services, with the intent to eliminate ambiguity and confusion from the process.”
The FNF Family of Companies, which has offices across the United States, was chosen as the Best Website-Underwriters winner. FNF’s Digital Closing Hub helps educate homeowners who are learning about digital closings and need to understand what to expect during a real estate transaction. The site is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly and a safe space for consumers to learn more about digital real estate closing options.
“The Digital Closing Hub has been an exciting project for the FNF Family of Companies because it has given our agents a way to directly talk to consumers, and the general public, about the changing world of digital closings and remote online notarization,” said Linda Grahovec ITP, IEP, NTP, vice president, National Agency Director of Education and Marketing at FNF Family of Companies. “Always talked about as a topic on the horizon before, the pandemic quickened the remote online notarization (RON) adoption timeline across the country, and FNF is proud to have provided resources and educational materials our agents need to make sure their customers understand these digital options. The Digital Closing Hub is central to these efforts and will continue to be a must-visit website for everyone who wants to learn about the innovation choices they have for a modern real estate closing.”
The Digital Closing Hub includes information about RON, COVID-19 resources, educational materials, digital closing solution partners and recent digital closing news.
Continental Title, which operates in Kansas and Missouri, received this year’s #GoodDeeds Award for its #CTCcares Campaign. Started in January 2020, the effort has raised more than $36,000 for local charities, such as several humane societies and Ronald McDonald Houses across the two states.
“We are humbled and honored to be recognized by ALTA for the #GoodDeeds Award,” said Matt McBride, president of Continental Title. “One of the core values of Continental Title Company is ‘We Are Charitable.’ We truly take this to heart. Through the #CTCcares effort, we have donated $36,325 through the third quarter of this year to several charitable organizations in the communities we serve.”
“Over the past few years, the title insurance industry slowly has begun to turn the tide and put homeowners at the center of everything we do,” said ALTA CEO Diane Tomb. “With this year’s COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important that we take care of our customers and communities, whether that means providing much needed informational resources or financial support. I’m proud to see ALTA members stepping up to the plate with these Good Deeds. Congratulations to ATG Title, the FNF Family of Companies and Continental Title.”
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About ALTA
The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing the land title insurance industry, which employs more than 120,000 people working in every county in the United States. More than two-thirds of ALTA’s 6,400 member companies are considered small businesses. ALTA members conduct title searches, examinations and closings and issue title insurance that protects real property owners and mortgage lenders against losses from defects in titles.
Connect with ALTA on Facebook here. Follow ALTA on Twitter here.
Contact: Megan Hernandez
Office: 202-261-0315
Email: mhernandez@alta.org