How to Generate Awareness for Your Online Auction
By Whit Hunter
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An online auction is a fantastic way to raise much-needed funding for your organization. Auctions are fun and engaging for both donors and the organization raising money. As you work through your online auction checklist, pay special attention to advertising and generating awareness for your event.
Advertising auctions is a breeze with the help of online fundraising platforms like BetterWorld. From helping you set up a user-friendly donation website to assisting with text messages and email notifications, BetterWorld has all the tools you need to host a memorable and profitable event. Sign up for free at BetterWorld today!
How to Promote an Online Auction
Considering your audience is the first step to deciding how to promote an online auction. Who is your audience, and where are they most likely to see and acknowledge your advertisements? Once you're clear on that information, you're ready to start an online auction advertising campaign.
Here is a list of some of our favorite online auction advertising tactics to help you get started.
Social Media
Whether you love or hate it, there is power in social media, and many of us connect with our friends, families, and networks through at least one social media platform.
Schools and organizations also use social media to connect with their students, members, and communities, so social media is the perfect place to start your online auction advertising campaign.
To create the furthest reach:
- Create a Facebook event for your online auction.
- Ask your participants and volunteers to share the event with their friends.
- Post an event link in community Facebook groups and your organization's Facebook page.
- Make the event open to the public so anyone can participate in your auction.
- Within the event page, post all of the information about your upcoming fundraiser, including a link to your auction website.
A Facebook page is also a great way to provide timely updates, share images of biddable items, and keep in touch with your audience.
In addition to your Facebook event, you can share your online auction link directly on your personal Facebook page. Invite your friends, talk about the online auction, tell them why they should participate, and use social media to educate them on your organization's work and why you're raising money. People who feel more personally connected to an organization are more likely to participate in its fundraisers.
Don't just stop at Facebook — advertise your auction on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and other relevant social media platforms.
Email Marketing
An email marketing campaign effectively reaches your audience as it allows a direct connection with people who may not use social media.
Send an automated email marketing campaign to introduce your audience to your online auction. Include sneak peeks of items that will be up for bid, provide updates on your progress, and reminders that the bidding window is closing soon. When these reminders pop up in front of them, potential bidders are more likely to click the link to your auction.
Some online fundraising platforms, like BetterWorld, will help you send out well-crafted and beautifully designed emails to catch your audience's attention and build a buzz around your auction.
Partnerships & Sponsors
Outside partnerships and local business sponsorships are wonderful ways to boost participation in your event. Businesses often provide items or services you can include as auction items and can often solve the problem of how to advertise an auction.
Businesses that donate to your online auction support your cause but also benefit from advertising themselves. When a company promotes your event, they get the exposure and brand recognition of being a charitable community business, and you gain access to a new audience.
You can also tap into your partners and sponsors for volunteer recruitment. Larger organizations often have many employees who enjoy giving back to their community. People love to help organizations with their charity work and fundraisers — you just have to ask!
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Your Website
Your organization's website is a big piece of the online auction advertising puzzle. Whether you add an event link to your homepage or event calendar or write an entire blog post, make sure your website visitors have easy access to your online auction link.
Visitors to your website likely already support your cause, so it makes sense to tell them about your online auction, as they will probably support that, too.
Radio
Try a radio ad to increase local participation in your online auction. While radio is not as readily accessible as other online auction advertising tactics, it can still be as effective as email marketing or social media.
A professional radio ad can expand your organization's reach and spread the word about your upcoming event. Just be sure to make your event link highly visible on your website and direct listeners to the site.
Achieve More with BetterWorld
Are you ready to raise money for your organization? BetterWorld's friendly and knowledgeable team can help with all the tools and support you need to organize and advertise your online auction. Contact us today!
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