Think back to those charity events where you quietly scribble your bid on a sheet of paper for a desired item. That’s the traditional silent auction many of us know. Now, imagine doing all of that but from any device, anytime, anywhere. That’s basically what online auctions are.
Instead of needing to be live at an event, online auctions let supporters join in from their couch, the coffee shop, or wherever they happen to be. Some fundraisers run these auctions completely online, with no in-person event at all. Others mix things up by displaying items at the venue but handle all the bidding digitally which is known as a hybrid auction.
What makes it even easier? Today’s online fundraising tools handle the heavy lifting. Organizers simply upload the items, set bidding rules, and then share the auction’s link. And for your guests? Wherever they are, they can scroll through the list of available items and place bids at the click of a button.
Why Fundraisers Are Turning to Online Auctions
Let’s be honest, pulling off a successful fundraiser isn’t easy. You need a way to keep people interested, make it convenient for them to give, and ideally, have them enjoying the process enough to want to support your future fundraisers. That’s where online auctions have been stepping in, and they’ve been quietly changing the game for a lot of organizations.
1. Reach More Supporters Anywhere
In the old days, if someone couldn’t make it to the event, they were out of luck and unable to bid in the silent auction. Now? Even if some supporters can’t physically attend your event, they can browse the items, bid on their favorites, and contribute to your cause.
You can even open your silent auction to entirely new audiences. Think former students, alumni, or community members who may never set foot at your in-person event but still want to support your cause. The reach goes from local to global with a few clicks.
2. Extended Engagement and 24/7 Bidding
An in-person auction might last a couple of hours, whereas online auctions can keep the momentum for much longer. This gives supporters plenty of time to browse your items and continuously engage with the auction. Many organizers even see a spike in bidding activity within the final hours, as guests race to secure their favorite items. The luxury of online auctions means more eyeballs on each item, and more opportunities to hit your fundraising goals.
3. Increase Bid Competition
Those “you’ve been outbid” alerts are surprisingly effective. Nobody likes to lose, especially when they are this close to winning an item they really want. A quick notification often sparks a bidding war that’s fun to watch and great for your cause. You’ll sometimes see the same two or three bidders going back and forth right up until the closing seconds. That level of engagement is much harder to achieve with paper bid sheets.
4. Lower Costs, Higher Returns
You don’t have to print dozens of bid sheets, rent a bigger venue, or have volunteers closely monitoring tables all night. Cutting back in those areas can lead to big saving for organizations of all sizes. And by moving online, you can keep your overhead low while freeing up staff and volunteers to focus on other parts of the event, like connecting with donors or securing more high-value auction items.
And while all of these benefits are impressive on their own, they get even more powerful when you bring mobile bidding into the mix. That’s where the real magic happens.
The Role of Mobile Bidding in Fundraising Success
If online auctions opened the door to bigger fundraising opportunities, mobile bidding is what pushed it wide open. These days, everyone is on a device of some sort, checking messages, scrolling feeds, or shopping with a few taps. Mobile bidding takes advantage of that habit, making it simple for supporters to stay engaged with your auction wherever they are.
Bidding on the Go
Rather than relying solely on bids from attendees physically at your event, supporters can bid from anywhere, anytime! What does this mean exactly? Well, if you’re taking a short break from work, relaxing at home, or running some errands, staying involved is easier than ever. The convenience of mobile bidding allows more people to participate, resulting in higher engagement levels and total funds raised.
Outbid Notifications That Spark Action
We’ve all felt that little jolt when a notification pops up on our phone. Mobile bidding taps into that. Receiving a quick outbid alert nudges supporters back into the auction right away, creating a fun sense of urgency that keeps the bids flowing. Considering before, where attendees would need to actively monitor their bids from a bid sheet, mobile bidding streamlines that entire process.
Easy Item Tracking
With a mobile platform like Bid Beacon, supporters don’t have to flip through a program or remember which table had a specific item. Bookmarking items that are of interest is a great way to get quick access and monitor the bidding activity in real time. It might not seem like a big deal, but small conveniences like this go a long way in keeping people connected to your event and coming back time and time again.
Smooth Checkout and Payments
With traditional silent auctions, a common headache that fundraisers face is during the closeout process. From tallying up winners, collecting payments, and making sure items go to the right people, there’s a lot to manage in a short span of time. Mobile bidding solves all of that with efficient online payment processing. Supporters can pay right from any device, and organizers don’t have to chase anyone down afterward.
Less Stress for Organizers
Behind the scenes, mobile bidding cuts down on a lot of manual work. No more tracking down those with illegible handwriting, answering the same questions about how bidding works, or sorting through stacks of paper bid sheets at the end of the night. For volunteers and staff, that means less stress and more time to focus on running a memorable event.
Mobile bidding makes silent auctions faster, easier, and far more engaging, but to really get the most out of your fundraiser, you need the right tools.
Online Fundraising Tools That Make It Happen
A lot of people think the success of an auction comes down to the items available. And while that’s true, the platform you run it on matters just as much. If the technology is clunky or confusing, people will give up before they even place a bid. The right online fundraising tool makes the whole experience smooth, for both organizers and bidders alike.
Not every platform is built the same. Here are a few features to keep an eye for:
- Easy item setup. Adding photos and descriptions shouldn’t be difficult to accomplish. After all, silent auctions might have upwards of 50 or more items, so this process needs to be user friendly for organizers.
- Flexible bidding rules. Make sure you’re able to add custom bid increments and starting bids for all items. Being able to add custom start and end times for individual items is a huge plus for those wanting to introduce FOMO over an item or two.
- Secure payments. Supporters expect to pay online as quickly as they’d buy something from Amazon. A clunky checkout is the fastest way to lose bids and frustrate winners at the end of the night.
- Clear reporting. After the auction, you’ll want to know what worked. Which items drew the most attention, or which ones received little to no bids. Good reporting saves you from guessing and helps you make improvements for future fundraising events.
- Promotion tools. Are there easy ways to share your silent auction online? Can you send reminder notifications to your supporters? Being able to answer yes to these questions means you can reach a wider audience and keep your supporters engaged throughout the entire event.
If you’re curious, platforms like Bid Beacon offer everything above and more! Things like outbid alerts and mobile-friendly bidding keep supporters in the game, without you having to chase them down.
Wrapping Up: Should Your Fundraiser Consider Online Auctions?
There’s no denying that online auctions have changed the game for many fundraising organizations. They cut costs, remove administrative headaches that once plagued organizers, and most importantly, they give supporters more ways to contribute to your cause.
Just keep your audience in mind when planning. Some organizations might find a full online auction works best with their community. Others may see better results with a more hybrid approach, mixing in-person and online bidding together.
For those that are getting ready for a future fundraiser or considering online auctions for the first time, try Bid Beacon today.
FAQ
What are the typical costs of running online auctions?
The cost of running online auctions will vary depending on the platform used. Some providers have upfront, fixed costs to get started, while platforms like Bid Beacon have zero upfront costs and only take a percentage of the total raised.
Can I run an online auction alongside a live fundraising event?
Absolutely, and this is encouraged! Online auctions can be combined into any live event with relative ease. With sufficient space at your venue, set up a few tables to display the auction items that are available online. This is a great way to entice supporters to join the auction and start bidding.
What are the benefits of online auctions compared to traditional formats?
There’s a reason more organizations are adopting the online format when it comes to silent auctions. An online auction can reach wider audiences, run for longer periods of time, and keep supporters engaged through real-time notifications.
