Fundraise - Events - Guide to Auction Events, Step 4 - During the Auction Event, Spread the Word

During the Auction Event Spread the Word
Your listings are live and the bidding is underway! Now it’s time to kick the marketing into high gear.
About Me Pages
You may want to create a free About Me Page on eBay. Your eBay About Me Page can be easily customized with HTML and can include information on your organization, current eBay listings you’ve created (please note: Community Sellers’ listings won’t show up here), and recent feedback comments. Creating the page is easy and free for all eBay users.
See an example About Me Page
Learn more about creating an About Me Page
About My Nonprofit Page
Your About My Nonprofit Page is where all of your eBay Giving Works listings are highlighted (including listings you’ve created plus those created by Community Sellers).
This is a dedicated webpage we created for your nonprofit when you registered with PayPal Giving Fund. To find yours, search for your nonprofit in the "Search" box on eBay Giving Works or PayPal Giving Fund.
See Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s About My Nonprofit page
Extra features
eBay offers an array of features to help you bring in more potential buyers to your listings.
Consider using some of eBay’s feature options such as highlight and Gallery Featured . Please note, these services are not free to nonprofits and range in price. They won’t qualify for the eBay Giving Works Fee Credit Benefit, so consider your promotional budget before using them.
On your website
Promote the auction event to all your website visitors. You may want to create a special page dedicated just to the auction or add information to an existing page. Either way, include:
The auction event’s start & end dates
A link to your About My Nonprofit page or About Me Page
An explanation of how funds raised from this event will be used
Highlights of some of your more interesting items
The dollar amount of your fundraising goal (you may also want to include updates throughout the auction event of how close you are to reaching it)
Give this page a vanity URL to make it easy for people to remember the page. For instance, try www.nonprofit.org/amazingauction or something similar.
All of your promotional materials should point to either your About My Nonprofit Page or About Me Page so supporters can find your listings easily.
Tell everyone!
The more people that know about your auction event, the more likely it is to be a success. Spreading the word is well worth the effort. Here are some ideas to get started:
Write a story about the auction event in your nonprofit newsletter
Put a large announcement on your website homepage with a link to your About Me Page or About My Nonprofit Page
Email supporters when the event goes live and again when it has 24 hours left
Ask your corporate donors to add links from their company websites
Send a press release to the local media
Post a link to your event on relevant discussion boards
Include information on your MySpace and Facebook pages
Add a link to the auction event in your email signature
Managing buyers

Questions from users
Potential buyers may contact you with questions about your listings. Assign one person (preferably the person who did the listing) to be the official responder. Remember, the quicker you can get back to your potential bidders, the happier they will be!
Is this bidder for real?
Wouldn’t it be great to make $1 million from that dusty old painting? That’s always possible on eBay, but remember that sometimes bidders can get carried away in the excitement. Keep an eye on your listings to make sure that the prices are realistic.
If you’re uncertain about a buyer, you have the option to cancel their bid . It is also possible to block a bidder .

Guide to Auction Events, Step 4

During the Auction Event Spread the Word

About Me Pages

About My Nonprofit Page

Extra features

On your website

Tell everyone!

Managing buyers

Questions from users

Is this bidder for real?

Learn More

Guide to Holding Auction Events

Follow eBay Giving Works