Want to Win at an Auction? Start with Knowing the ABCs
How to have a successful auction
Successful auctions don’t just come about. They need proper planning and execution to ensure that your attendees stay entertained and maintain a desire to give to your charity.
To guarantee your success, make sure that you hire a professional charity benefit auctioneer to ensure that your charity will maximize the dollars that you are looking to raise at their fundraiser.
The best fundraising auctioneers in the business will make sure that the audience is having a great time, while at the same time motivating that audience to want to give their money to support your cause. It is about putting the fun in fundraising!
An auctioneer is the backbone of the bidding process
The role of a quality benefit auctioneer is to ensure that their clients (the charities) can maximize the dollars they are looking to raise at their fundraiser.
They do this through applying their proven techniques and experience to each auction that they help facilitate. They also act as a consultant and guide to help charities to make good decisions.
Know what sells at a charity auction
Best-selling silent auction items can be summed up in one word – desirable.
Whatever you are offering needs to be appealing to your audience for them to spend money on it. This really is the key factor.
Typical categories for silent auction items consist of local travel, fine dining & wine, home & décor, art, cultural & entertainment outings, sporting events & related memorabilia, jewelry & fashion, and family/children’s items & experiences.
Your professional benefit consultant will be able to give you specific guidance as to what will exactly work for your audience.
Know how an auctioneer makes money
A professional benefit auctioneer gets paid directly by their client the nonprofit. A charity benefit auctioneer should be paid a flat fee – known up front and agreed to be contracted.
Be wary of anyone that charges a percentage of what is raised the night of the event. This practice goes against the code of American Fundraising Professionals ethics and will cost the nonprofit too much of the funds they have raised.
Know that fees vary from one auctioneer to another
Fees will vary from company to company based on the experience, services received, and the proven past results.
Always keep in mind that a low-cost alternative is often not the best alternative. You will usually get exactly what you paid for.
There is a very different user experience in driving a Yugo vs. a Rolls Royce. The best charity auctioneers should never be looked at as a line-item cost for your event, but as an investment that should reap huge immediate returns for your charity.
Auctions don’t have to be boring
The best auctions are entertaining auctions. Auctions that are fun and engaging serve to motivate people to give more to your charity, so it’s important to have a great auctioneer that creates the right atmosphere for your event.
Your auctioneer should be able to both entertain and motivate your guests. This takes expertise that is developed over a lifetime of experiences running auctions like yours. Auction Results has been in the business of running auctions for charities for 30+ years and we know what it takes to create a fun and successful charity auction.
Find out more about our auction services here.