{"id":14146,"date":"2020-12-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-28T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/?p=14146"},"modified":"2024-11-14T10:20:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T15:20:51","slug":"silent-auction-secret-sauce-mix-and-match-off-site-in-person-activities-to-raise-more-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/silent-auction-secret-sauce-mix-and-match-off-site-in-person-activities-to-raise-more-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Auction Secret Sauce: Mix and Match Off-Site & In-Person Activities to Raise More Money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever tried to make plans with a group of friends? Balancing everyone’s schedule is exhausting, and it’s near impossible to choose a date and time that works for everyone. That problem compounds with every new individual you add to a group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s true with nonprofit events, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you tried to choose a date and time for your silent auction that ensured every one of your donors could attend, you’d probably have to choose a date sometime in the 2040s. Unless you’re a fan of scheduling events way (way way way) in advance, you might want to explore another option: incorporating silent auction elements<\/a> that let people participate at your event or online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psst: looking to learn about running silent auctions? You might like our ultimate guide \u2014 <\/em>check it out<\/em><\/a>!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what that looks like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Site and In-Person Silent Auctions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve ever attended a silent auction, you’re familiar with rows of auction items displayed tastefully on long tables. On one hand, it’s a great way to get items in front of donors\u2014event attendees can see all available items at a glance. On the other hand, this kind of display is only good for bidders who are physically at your event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if you could do both?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can! First, you’ll want to add your auction items to the auction you’ve built on your silent auction platform (you can learn more about digital auctions here<\/a>). Then, you can set up processes for both in-person and online bidders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For in-person bidders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Go ahead and set up your auction item tables as usual. Replace those awkward paper bid sheets with a page containing an item description and a QR code that will take them directly to the item in the event you’ve created. From there, they can make a bid online or through the Givi app, add the item to their favorites, or learn more about it. Alternatively, they can look over all your auction items while they’re at their table, in the drink line, or talking with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upside of giving your in-person attendees different ways to bid is that it frees them up to mingle and have fun at your event. If you’ve ever hovered over a bid sheet until the end of an event, you know how important this is! Instead of lurking around the item table, bidders who use the Givi app can opt into notifications when someone\u2019s outbid them. They can update their bid with a swipe of the thumb; they don’t even have to put down their drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For off-site bidders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If someone can’t attend your auction event but wants to bid on items, having a list of items available online is a godsend. They can register and check into your auction just like attendees. Instead of walking up and down the lines of auction items, they can scroll through the items you’ve already built. Placing and updating bids is just as easy for remote bidders as it is for in-person bidders, and app bidders receive the same in-app notifications as their friends at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an exceptional option for out-of-state donors, donors who come down with a cold or injury, donors on vacation… anyone who has their eye on an auction item but can’t attend the event.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Ready<\/a><\/span>