Last month I had a Facebook fan (or “likers,” to use the new FB terminology) post a question on the Red Apple Auctions’ page.  He was wondering why my benefit auction posts hadn’t shown up in his feed for awhile.

If you’re a fan of Red Apple Auctions on Facebook and have been missing our posts, here’s your answer.

Facebook continues to change its look and filters.  The basics remain the same (For instance, I’m still talking to my aunt on my personal page and sharing great benefit auction advice on the Red Apple Auctions’ page), but every so often when I log on, I spot new menus, buttons or read a post about a control change.

Are your favorite pages and people in your feed?  Some of mine weren’t!  It’s one of those things that makes you go, “Hmmm.”

Here’s how to fix it, so you aren’t missing critical benefit auction information from me, or those must-have laughing cat videos from your aunt.

HOW TO FIX:

You might have previously blocked Red Apple Auctions.

(Unthinkable, but it just would take a quick slip of the mouse.)

To get back in the loop, double-click the “Most Recent” tab and select “Edit Options.”  You will see a list of blocked applications and pages.  If Red Apple Auctions is on it, click the “x.”

Make sure that the “show post from:” is set to all friends and pages.  

If you select “Friends you interact with most” — and you aren’t frequently chatting with us — you would still be able to see our benefit auction updates if you select this setting

I’m glad we had this talk.

© Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S. Are you looking for more substantial auction fundraiser information?  You’ll find it in Benefit Auction Ideas.

Red Apple Auctions is holding a Facebook "Be a Fan" Sweepstakes through January 31.

We’re in the homestretch.  The final days to improve your benefit auction… for free.

One lucky Red Apple Auctions Facebook fan will win “Charity Auction Bells & Whistles.

This video tutorial teaches you 22 different games, raffles, and activities you can incorporate into your benefit auction to add interactivity, raise more money, leverage press, and engage volunteers.  (It’s valued at almost $400 and it’s getting remarkable reviews!)

The sweepstakes ends next Monday, January 31, 2011.

And here’s a tip I’ve learned from this experience to help you Auction Chairs.

In my consultations with my clients about Facebook (as it relates to their benefit auction), they often need a way to jumpstart the page.  “We don’t have any fans,” they bemoan.

Why not consider holding a sweepstakes? Drum up a little drama around your Facebook presence.

Your prize can be something small. Maybe it’s an extra branded mousepad you have sitting around.  Or a squeeze toy.  Or a T-shirt, if you’ve got one.

If you have a bunch of something small, you could give many people the chance to win.  “Every 10th fan will receive a coffee cup.”  That would be fun!

Here’s a tip: There are several affordable services available to manage the back-end process and ensure you get maximum value from your time.  I advocate you use one so as not to accidentally break a Facebook rule and have your page turned off.

This is the type of task that should go to a Facebook-savvy auction committee member or your P.R. Chair.  Once you’ve got a following, use these 12 social media auction ideas to post content for fans.

Meanwhile, be sure to fan us on our Facebook page, and get your entry secured for the Charity Auction Bells & Whistles product!

Here’s a popular Auction Chair resource.  Enjoy our acclaimed “Benefit Auction Ideas” e-newsletter… for free.

©2011 Red Apple Auctions Co. All Rights Reserved.

Or maybe you just want to help a charity you love by getting the word out on Twitter?

Regardless of your motive, here are some ideas to model.  I see great auction-related tweets all the time on Twitter and pulled a few to get your juices flowing.

(As a side, does this count as a RT (retweet)?  I’m not sure what a tweet-to-blog communication is called.)

1.  You can tweet about donations received.

juliawun @mollyalgray I wrote a grant to Disney, asking for free tix as a fundraising effort and we got 4 to auction off at lunatique!

TPAMagazine Charity auction: Be the first to ride Intimidator at Carowinds. Starting bid: $50 http://bit.ly/5ym1uQ@latimesfunland) (via

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2.  You can tweet about donations received, while emphasizing the donor.  This tweet does a nice job of announcing the donor while simultaneously promoting her business and thanking her.

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3.  Give a shout-out to acknowledge your sponsors.

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4. Tweet to seek volunteers.

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5.  Or tweet to tell the trials and tribulations of how to manage incoming donations.  This Rotary Club is writing a clever story about their experiences.  I can’t wait to read the next installment!

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6.  Here’s a smart way to advertise the charity you support, while also advertising  your business and/or hobby-for-hire.

oneredapple Prepping for my next project- a child’s chair to donate to the Center for Grieving Children’s fundraising auction on Feb. 5!

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7.  You can tweet any changes in dates or meeting times.

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8.  You can solicit for donations.  Even from celebrities.

SpursGyal @PerezHilton Would you consider donating something signed to the @ACTforSMA Charity auction to help terminally ill babies? Thanks

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9.  Tweet for help in scouting a location for your charity auction.

eith2miller I am looking for a space in downtown to host a benefit auction for Haiti. Anyone know any places that might work? 3-5 days…

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10.  Tweet to say “thank you” when the charity auction has concluded.

© 2005-2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  Like what you read?  Then you’ll love our Benefit Auction Ideas e-zine.

But the good news is that you can receive advance notice of the next FREE teleclass by signing up with your email and name on the right.

When you sign-up, you’ll get a free bonus (the Item Guide) to get you started with procurement. Then every other week , I’ll send you information about classes, free auction tips, and other juicy information, all designed to improve the financial success of your auction.

(Oh, P.S. — I email you the item guide immediately, so check your email as soon as you sign-up.)

_______________________________________

A number of you inspired me to dig deep into how and why some auction chairs have super-successful auctions and others don’t.  After three months of research, I’ve got the goods.

In fact, depending on how long you’ve been getting my information, you might have participated in step one of this research (a
survey).

After hearing from you, talking with clients, and meeting with Auction Chairs, I’ve noticed trends.

When these women step in to work the auction … especially when it’s their first time … they have some misconceptions that often don’t get corrected until well into the planning cycle, if ever.

They’re smart women, but by the time they realize what needs to change, “the auction train has left the station.”

It’s too late.

Misconceptions about planning.
Misconceptions about items.
Misconceptions about volunteers.
Misconceptions about the silent auction.

I’m calling these misconceptions “myths.”

The auction rolls forward.
Time runs out.
Tensions run high.

The money is collected (it could have been better) but the truth is, the planning process was frustrating, overwhelming, stressful, and NO ONE WANTS TO WORK ON THE AUCTION AGAIN!

In the end, the Auction Chair knows something wasn’t right.
They’ve lived the event.
They figured some pieces out.

But had they only known THEN what they know NOW.

On Wednesday, December 2, you’re going to hear about these myths, so you can learn from experience….

Inaccurate thinking which led to problems like overestimating auction revenue, underestimating resources needed, and generally failing to prepare as well for the silent auction or live auction.

And of course, I’m going to counter this information with some new thinking and ideas.

I’ll see you there!

Love and success,
Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS
Red Apple Auctions LLC

P.S. I’ll also be sharing something on the call that those of you with 2010 auctions will NOT want to miss.

Creating “something to write” can be overwhelming for some people, so here are 12 auction-related ideas on what you (or your public relations volunteer) can post on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, or other social networking sites to promote your benefit auction.

1. Announce donations: When an auction donation arrives, announce the item, thank the donor, and provide a link back to the donor’s website. Be sure to include a photo, if possible.

2. Ask for a donation to round out a package: “We need a florist to donate a bouquet to complete our Mother’s Day package at our Fabulous Fundraising Auction for Children.”

3. Testimonials: Auction fundraisers should be mission-focused. Keep your supporters updated with successes. For instance, “Peggy is off the streets, thanks to our non-profit,” or “Jeremy credits St. Stephens’s art teacher in giving him the confidence to pursue art in college.”

4. Event Preparations: Share a photo of the decor committee drawing backdrops for the auction, or the Gala Chairs meeting to send out invitations. This shows that others are involved in auction planning and preparing to attend the event.

5. Special announcements: Share news. “In just three weeks, we’ve surpassed 50 raffle ticket sales.”  Or, “Only 200 seats left before our school auction sells-out!”

6. Apply gentle pressure to past auction donors: A post such as, “We sold a lovely 2-night stay at the Fairmont last year, and are hoping they’ll donate again,” might work. Include a link to the hotel, and then contact the hotel so they see how you are treating them kindly – even before they donate.

7. Answer questions: Make the questions up, if you need to. “A new family to our school asked what was appropriate to wear to the benefit auction. Here’s our answer, and we included three photos of past guests.”

8. Create a list: You can create a list on almost anything. “Top 5 Reasons to Attend our Auction Fundraiser.”  “Three Ways You Can Volunteer That Will Take Less Than 2 Hours per Week.”

9. Seek specific volunteers: “Any math lovers out there? We need an auction clerk, and your primary job is recording numbers during the live auction. Any takers?”

10. Link to relevant websites: “In 55 days, our charity auction will be raising money for cancer research.  Here’s a link to fascinating article written by XYZ about the need for a cure.”

11.  Support your supporters: When you notice that one of your supporters (e.g. a school parent, a Board member, an auction donor) is mentioned in the paper, link to it and promote it. “Parent Joe Smith just got promoted and here’s the link. Way to go, Joe! We look forward to congratulating you in person at the gala next Saturday.”

12.  Call to action: Get your audience to act (or think about acting).  Something like, “Early-bird pricing on gala tickets ends tomorrow,” or “Get your gala dress at Lord & Taylor this weekend. The store has special occasion dresses on sale.”

These auction tips will get you started with fresh auction content.

Ready for more? Get my FREE Auction Item Guide for fresh procurement ideas and items selling over value.

© 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

Sherry Truhlar speaking at a spring event. (Or maybe working as a sign language interpreter.)

If you’re seeking quality benefit auction ideas and fundraising auction information, this is one of those no-brainer events to attend.

For those of you living in the Washington, D.C. / Baltimore corridor, I invite you to meet me in Millersville, MD (near Annapolis) on Tuesday, October 6 from 10 AM – 2:30 PM, where I’ll be speaking.  As I type this, I believe we have 5 spots left.

In a hurry?  Register here.

I am passionate about improving auction ROI (return on investment), so I’ll be speaking on the best ways I’ve seen to max out your returns.

I’m presenting in conjunction with Auctionpay, an auction software company.  But the seminar is not a full-blown sales pitch.  It’s about sharing best practices.

I am so confident in this presentation that I’m giving you my 100% money-back guarantee.

If you attend this event and feel you just heard a 3-hour sales pitch for software, I will pay your registration fee myself.

Here’s what participants have written on their survey forms after attending this talk:

“Sherry was excellent…she spoke well and definitely knew her stuff.” (production company in Florida)

“The presenter was very versed in the auction process and demonstrated excellent experience in execution.” (Director of Special Events in Pennsylvania)

“Just wanted to thank you for the incredibly helpful information you gave at the Auctionpay seminar this morning. It far exceeded my expectations and I left feeling better equipped and excited about our next event.” (Development Director in Oklahoma)

“The seminar was full of good knowledge and helpful tips for conducting an auction. Great ideas that will make our auction more successful” (Fundraising Chair in Georgia)

(Ready to register?  Click here .)

As I thought about why you might want to attend, I immediately came up with six reasons:

1. It’s content-rich. One of my clients will be attending their 3rd seminar to get more content.  It’s that good.
2. You’ll walk away with ready-to-implement ideas.
3. Get your unique questions answered.
4. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t using auction software (or if you are using a different vendor), the tips you’ll learn convey across your auctions.
5. It’s therapeutic. You begin to realize your share challenges with others. Like cheap group therapy.
6. Last seminar at this price. This is the last time you’ll be able to hear this much content and get lunch for $20.  Lots of other companies charge $80 to $300 for this same level of content.

Here are a more comments from others:

“I walked out of the seminar with many new ideas and lots of excitement!” (Development Administrator in Washington)

” Excellent resource for anyone preparing to conduct a benefit auction!” (Auction Coordinator in Washington)

“… a very focused presentation that went directly to the fundraising and its procedures and problems.”
(Board member in Delaware)

I would truly enjoy meeting you in person.  Here’s our chance!

If you live in the area, you owe it to your charity to attend this event … and please be sure to introduce yourself.

One more time. Register here.