A Dozen Sizzling Auction Tips
Maximize giving and maximize fun with these principles and key tips.
Guiding Principles:
- Focus the energy on fundraising, mix in fun to maximize giving.
- Make every minute a giving minute.
- Honor volunteer time by using it as efficiently as possible.
- Start planning nine to twelve months prior to your event.
A well thought out plan will reduce stress and attract quality committee members and quality bidders. Research data from prior auctions to determine who your key bidders are and the most desirable items for your crowd. Start work on the big auction items first. Send special invitations to your major bidders. - Assemble a good team.
Seek a balance of volunteers who are well connected in the community and committed to your cause. Make being on the committee an honor and an opportunity to have fun being together. Find people from all walks of life and find the right job for their skills. - Hire a professional benefit auctioneer.
A professional benefit auctioneer will focus the energy on your cause and stir in the right amount of fun to maximize giving. Hiring a benefit auctioneer who combines the consulting experience from hundreds of auctions with the stage presence of a professional helps take the risk out of your fundraising event. - Use the right tools to maximize results.
An auction-quality sound system, adequate lighting and the appropriate venue can make or break your event. Guests may attend with the intention of giving large amounts of money, but if they cannot hear the auction or see what is going on they will not bid. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. Book a good venue as quickly as possible and take care to provide a quality sound system and appropriate lighting. - Maximize the potential of your auction catalog and website.
A handsome and well-designed auction catalog has a huge potential to improve the way your event is perceived by attendees, sponsors, donors and the community. A quality auction catalog tells everyone that the cause is important and sets the tone before the doors open. A well-designed website adds to the distinctiveness and desirability of your auction as well. - Be prepared when your guest arrive.
Make guests feel welcome and confident that the evening will go smoothly. Have registration materials ready when guests arrive so that they can move quickly into the event, where they’ll be bidding and having fun instead of waiting in line. Use AuctionPay best practices guide. - More is not better—Better is better.
Avoid filling the room with countless auction trinkets, excessive decorations, or guests who are not there to bid. A professional benefit auctioneer will help you determine the right number—and kind—of items for your event. Use your data from prior events to focus in on the items that your group has an appetite for, such as wine, travel, or sports items. - Stick to an effective and energetic evening timeline.
Use early arrival incentives, sequential & carefully-timed silent auction closings and a rapid flow into the live auction to build energy and excitement. Avoid losing energy through entertainment that distracts from bidding such as dancers and loud music, lengthy recognition or buffet lines before the live auction. - End on a good note.
Implement an effective process that enables your guests to quickly pay for and remove their items. When done correctly, item removal can be simple and quick. Contact Auctionpay® to learn how to expedite the end of auction payment process. This is critical. - Thank top bidders, donors, sponsors and volunteers.
Public recognition and thank you letters will set you apart and create excitement for future giving. - Take stock.
Have a wrap-up session involving key volunteers and those interested in helping out next year. Discuss what worked well and what needs improvement. Consolidate and study your data. Be careful to limit “armchair quarterbacking.” Focus on the positive. - Have FUN!
Always remember David Brower’s Rule #6—“Never take yourself too seriously.” Do whatever it takes to make your committee gatherings fun and enjoyable. The committee’s excitement and fun will flow into the event, creating a cycle of maximum giving and maximum fun that builds from year to year!
