I stumbled across a May 2008 post from Seth Godin called Marketing the Charity Auction. (It's short. You might want to read it first.) In the article, Godin writes that an auction fundraiser "never leads to a wildly successful auction, because the story that's told is too small." He suggests that the nature of an auction is the lure of a deal. Charities play upon this, selling the public on bargains instead of selling philanthropy. In turn, the guests become shoppers looking for a way to snag ... Read On >
Marketing
Salmon or pork turd: Which would you eat?
I'm laughing as I type this. Twice I've gone into a fit of giggles as I imported this photo into the blog. Childish humor, I guess. Those of you seeking some deep, dark benefit auction secrets are about to hear one. Proofread! That's right. Proofread. Have a good writer in your nonprofit or school do a once-over on anything that is meant for the public to read. In this case, the options for the gala meal included salmon (which was delicious) or the pork terderloin. Not a tenderloin, but ... Read On >
Free online calendar of events where you can post your gala charity auction
Looking for free publicity in any shape and form? Here are a few places online you can list your gala charity auction so roaming eyeballs can find it. Eventful.com Free to post and the site itself is divided into many categories ... fundraisers, performing arts, concerts, and the like. Users can also sign up for alerts so if you like a particular type of event, they'll let you know when it's available. Vivanista.org In 2010 San Francisco-based Vivanista added calendar functionality to ... Read On >
VIDEO: Everyone’s favorite color on the silent auction table
Looking for a new idea to spiff up your silent auction tables? Well ... if you can finagle it ... this color draws guests like flies to honey. What makes it even more unique is that the COLOR seems to be more important than the ITEM you're selling. (The video explains it all...) Watch the video below. P.S. For more helpful silent auction tips, claim your FREE subscription to "Benefit Auction Ideas". Enjoy auction ideas conveniently delivered to your in-box. ... Read On >
VIDEO: Using Sticky Note Marketing in your Silent Auction
Ah shucks. I shot this video right before Valentine's Day but we didn't get it posted in time. No big deal. Though I reference Valentine's Day, the marketing concept I'm teaching works for other holidays, too. Mother's Day, graduation, Christmas ... any holiday, really. (This will all make sense when you watch the video.) Remember: It's not just about getting great items. It's about MARKETING them. So in this video, you'll hear about some silent auction ideas for benefits as it relates to ... Read On >