Benefit auctions are ideal for raising money for a charity. They offer a quick way to maximize the profits because the possibilities are endless. But it takes some proper planning and strategy to make sure you have a successful charity auction. Here are some tips you should be aware of to ensure that your next benefit auction is a huge success.
Focus on Bringing People In
Making the auction site look presentable and impressive is great. It will give people something to remember and it shows that you are doing everything you can to make the auction a success. However, your focus should be on bringing people in rather than making things look nice. After all, if nobody attends your benefit auctions, it won’t matter how nice and pretty the surroundings are. Be sure to invest the majority of your money in ways to put people in the seats because that’s where your profit is going to come from.
Use a Professional Auctioneer
One of the most important ingredients to any successful live auction is a professional auctioneer. An expert auctioneer knows how to do more than just talk fast. In fact, they are experienced in working a crowd to help increase profits. They have the skills to accentuate the positives of each item that comes up for auction to drum up interest among potential bidders. They can also contribute to the fun and excitement of the event. In most cases, a professional auctioneer brings in a significant amount more than the cost to hire them in the first place.
Advertise Prior to the Event
In the days and weeks leading up to your charity auction, you should start advertising the items to the general public or to the groups who are invited to the event. If it’s a private auction, send materials to potential bidders so they can see what is up for auction before it occurs. If it’s open to the public, do mass mailings and other forms of advertisement. This will start a buzz of interest so people will want to come and bid on the things they are interested in.
Highlight the Items for Sale
One big mistake that auction personnel make is that they don’t properly highlight the items that are for sale. You should make sure there is proper lighting on each item that people are bidding on. Make sure they get a good look at each item to give it the best chance of selling at the highest price.
