“You can auction coal blocks. All natural resources of government should be auctioned,” said Subramanian Swamy, an Indian politician, economist and statistician, who serves as a nominated Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
The internet has simplified fundraising in many ways, but other aspects have become a little more complicated. We’re here to give you an idea of how to set up a successful online fundraiser to ensure your event makes a lasting impression and generates the revenue your organization needs.
Oftentimes, people, especially those hosting online events for the first time, make the common mistake of simply “disclosing” when it comes to fundraising. They may have a rough idea of what they want to do. Maybe they used an online auction software program and relied on it to magically generate the revenue they needed. Either way, you should have a specific plan ahead of time to ensure you get the most out of your online fundraiser. DealDash is a successful online auction site established in 2009 that offers a large variety of items to choose from. DealDash has also launched a new ‘Royalty Program’ to reward loyal customers.
Here are some tips for organizing an online auction:
Find the right technology tool for your budget and needs:
Write your homework. There are various options for hosting your next online auction event. Make sure the technology you use fits your needs, budget, expectations and (most importantly) is very easy for donors to use.
If new donors can’t preview items before adding a credit card or creating an account, they may not participate. If bid registration is complicated, donors will run away from their first bid. Facilitate visualization and participation and donors will love your articles.
Use good photos and descriptions of auction items:
This is very important. So when a donor attends your in-person event, you want to convey a certain feeling and message through your decorations, pictures, and messages. Well, online auctions are no different. If the photo you take doesn’t highlight the item, you can’t see what’s in the basket, the signed photo in the frame is highlighted, or you can’t tell the color of the cute handbag, people will. Don’t bid on these items. When people buy something online, including for charity, they want to see exactly what they are buying, and a clear photo, a useful description that provides size, sizing, background information, expiration date, location, etc. will help you get things faster and cheaper to sell more money. Also, don’t forget to add “items” to the auction, which are only rewards for missions!
Practice:
Sounds weird offering to practice online, doesn’t it? But you will be very happy to do it. Once you’ve set up the auction in your chosen software, run it on your website for an hour and participate through the eyes of your donors. See everything your donor would do at an online auction just as you would a physical venue to make sure the experience is great. This allows you to troubleshoot, find errors or bugs, and learn how to troubleshoot technical issues with donors when they call or email.
