We discuss how to turn your Christmas fundraiser into the most successful night of the year
Non-profit organizations and businesses alike often engage in fundraising initiatives during the holidays.
After all, nearly one third of annual giving occurs in December.
So, there really is no better time to host a silent auction or philanthropic event.
December is a time when people are reminded of the importance of family, the spirit of giving, and the unspoken duty we all have as human beings to support one another, when and where we can.
But this heart-warming, festive time of year also brings with it an increased amount of competition as people decide which charitable organizations or causes they will contribute to.
This leads event planners to wonder what they can do to make their end-of-year fundraising initiatives stand out from the rest, and ultimately drive more revenue.
So, what are the most effective silent auction best practices during the holiday season? And what types of results can event hosts expect after implementing them?
These are the questions we’ll be answering today.
Here Are 3 Strategies Event Planners Can Use To Surpass Their Holiday Silent Auction Goals:
1. Go Paperless
Did you know that pre-COVID, direct mail became the most complained about method of fundraising among top charities.
This is likely due in part to the increasing number of people who prefer to go paperless, for environment reasons, as well as convenience. Now, with COVID-19, there’s never been a better time to go paperless.
By making your silent auction paperless, you are not only catering to the growing demographic of people who prefer going paperless, but you are also streamlining the day-of operations at your event.
With the Bid Beacon app, event attendees can place bids, monitor auction items, and more – all from their mobile device! This eliminates the need for paper bidding sheets, attendance lists, and other forms.
Plus, your guests will be thrilled to learn that you are fundraising in an environmentally-conscious way. No paper, no problem!
2. Increase Revenue With Sponsorships
This is one of the most lucrative tips for hosting a silent auction. Too often, event organizers focus so intently on encouraging guests to bid that they fail to secure sponsorships that could boost their bottom line tremendously.
Thankfully, implementing an online auction solution like Bid Beacon can be highly attractive to potential sponsors. They can have their logo appear directly within the app where guests will be for the majority of the event. This leads to increasing the amount of exposure your sponsors receive.
Event organizers can also include special sponsored items within their silent auction. When you add an item, you can specify who donated it which is visible to your guests.
Still not convinced? What if we told you that in-app sponsorships generate lifts in brand impact measures (such as awareness, brand favorability, and purchase intent) that are 1.5-2 times higher than general mobile advertising?
When it comes to providing your sponsors with a worthwhile, beneficial return on their investment, few strategies compare to using a bidding app at your event.
3. Proactively Promote Your Event
In order to truly hit the ball out of the park when it comes to your fundraising event, you need to entice potential attendees well in advance.
This is something that an online auction software can make significantly easier.
Instead of relying on traditional methods like direct mail outs or telephone calls, you can simply share your auction’s invite link for attendees to join as they please. From within the app, all guests who join your auction can receive email updates about your upcoming event, preview items that will be available at your auction, and register from the convenience of their own home.
The app also allows you to share a link to social media accounts, seamlessly directing potential attendees to your online auction.
Not only does the Bid Beacon app allow you to communicate with your guests more effectively, but it also is a fantastic cost saver. Especially when you consider that the average cost of a paper RSVP card is $1.38.
The more cost-friendly and proactive your event promotion is, the greater the odds are that your silent auction will be profitable.
