6 DOs and DON’Ts of Hosting an Auction

A fundraising event is a wonderful time to bring your community together to share the impact of your mission and to offer your guests the opportunity to support your work. Incorporating live and silent auctions into your event can be an important source of revenue.  

Auction technology, like Network for Good’s, has enabled event participants and those not in attendance to view auction items, place bids, and process payments electronically. The pandemic which caused so many nonprofits to cancel events and create virtual event opportunities has made the need to employ auction software even more important.  

We’ve created a list about what to do and what not to do when hosting an auction to ensure your event is a success: 

6 Things to do When Hosting an Auction 

1. Check your local and state regulations around running an auction before you begin planning. 
2. Engage your board of directors and other volunteers in soliciting auction items. 
3. Think beyond securing physical items and gift cards from local businesses. Be creative and offer experiences your supporters will enjoy. 
4. Remember that you may need to ship or deliver items to winners if they do not attend the auction in person. 
5. Make it very easy for your supporters to access the software and bid on items by using a software that allows bidders to participate easily in-person or online from their mobile devices. 
6. Market! Market! Market the auction through all your social networks, your website, via email and text to your supporters, promote to the media, ask board members and volunteers to spread the word—do everything you can to gain exposure. 

5 Things to Avoid When Running an Auction 

1. Rejecting the idea of a hybrid auction if you host an in-person event. 
2. Being afraid to select consignments items you believe your community would enjoy. 
3. Setting your starting bid or your “buy-it-now” price too high or too low. 
4. Stopping marketing! 
5. Forgetting to prepare thank you letters, emails, or personal video messages for donors and auction winners to thank them for their support.  

Since our auction platform is built into our simple, smart software we make it possible to stay in touch with event attendees and participants and follow up with them before, during, and after your event all from one integrated system. 

To get insider tips and tricks for your next auction, check out Auctions Best Practices guide. 

Want to learn more about Network for good’s Events & Auctions platform? Get a demo. 

Published: November 22, 2021