Charities are always competing to raise money for their worthwhile causes. Here's a way you might not know about.
From live events, community fairs and swanky galas, there are countless ways to raise both money and awareness for meaningful causes. Through the internet charities can reach not only more people from all corners of the globe, but, if smart about it, also raise more money than usual fundraising ventures.
How much more? Well, through an "online" charity auction the possibilities are endless...
Recent research showed that 83% of consumers in the UK would prefer to purchase products that were associated with a charitable cause.
Online auctions are a cost-effective way for charities to expand their reach and engage supporters willing to donate. Bidders feel that they benefit twice - once when they receive the item they successfully bid for and once when the charity receives the proceeds.
Here's a tip to raising even more money - by putting a charity auction online, and building traffic to the website, this creates commercial sponsorship opportunities on the site, these businesses not only create a halo effect around them from supporting a good cause but enjoy the online exposure to a targeted audience.
The argument that is often heard is that by hosting an online charity auction you lose the benefit and excitement that is achieved through a live auction. On the contrary! Online auctions can be run in the lead up to a live auction, combining the winning bids online with the live bids, therefore effectively the person who placed their max bid online is acting as a telephone bidder during the live auction. It doesn't take a mathematical genius to work out that if millions of people globally can bid on the same items as the people at the live auction it will only help to drive winning bids upwards.
Recent research has also shown that the majority of bidders online are female, and that females are under represented in live auctions. "Online" auctions enable females to relax and enjoy their bidding experience rather than competing in a highly challenging male orientated environment.
There are hundreds of stories that show how online fundraising auctions are win-win propositions, benefiting charities, donors and buyers. There is certainly an element of fun to bidding online for charity, and bidders leave with real items and not just a cash receipt! Bidders typically consider their online auction donation as external to their usual yearly budget for charitable giving, helping to grow the charitable sector as a whole.
But how do charities get started and run their own online auctions? These can be set up from the comfort of the home or office and there is no need to spend all day posting the items and managing the bidding.
There are various sites that enable you to register and create your auction in a matter of minutes, and others that specialise in creating customised online auctions that can be integrated into your site. You will need to choose the one that best suits your objectives. A very top-end auction would probably align more with a customised, elegant website designed specifically for the job in hand. Whereas, a smaller more local, low value auction would be more suitable to a generic auction site.
These sites will not only create your auction system and post photos of the lots, but manage the behind-the-scenes bidding and payment processes. Their systems will not only reduce the strain on resources but will increase the amount of bidders, items, sponsors and funds raised for your charity.
Online charity auction sites have all the experience, knowledge, resources and tools necessary to help you through all the stages of creating a successful online charity auction.
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