And if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a numbers person. I like to measure results and make decisions based on numbers.  There’s nothing like seeing the answer in data and going for it.

So this week, I’m giving you the most popular blog posts of last year.  Consider it your insider’s guide to what was hot among charity auction and silent auction planners. The list spans from the nitty-gritty of silent auctions to the fun and fabulous.

BLOG POSTS

• Silent auctions: The good, the bad, and the ugly
• New silent auction ideas for displaying your jewelry
• Come to your senses to sell silent auction donations
• Looking ahead to 2011: Trends in Benefit Auctions – technically, this is a 2010 blog post but only for 4 days and auction chairs were definitely thinking 2011 with it
• New silent auction ideas could include a flip book
• Three ways to pamper the 40+ crowd at your silent auction
• Silent auction tips: Consider entertainment, stimulation & staging
• Which Is Better: An Auction Underwriter or Auction Sponsor?

VIDEO POSTS

One principle of learning that hasn’t changed since grade school is that some people learn by reading and some people learn by hearing or seeing.  For those in that second group, here are a few popular videos auction planners were tapping into.

Happy viewing…

• VIDEO: Encouraging youth to attend your benefit gala
• VIDEO: Are You Boring Your Charity Auction Guests by Only Talking About Your Mission?
• VIDEO: A dirty little secret about growing your benefit auction gala
• VIDEO: How to accelerate your benefit auction check-out line

Hope you find a nugget or two in last year’s popular blog posts and videos.  You could be the hit of your next  auction planning meeting, whether it’s just a silent auction or a full gala.
P.S.  If you really want to knock the socks off your committee, dig into the auction item guide and be the hit of the procurement conversation.  Sign up for the F*R*E*E charity auction item guide at www.redappleauctions.com
© 2012 Red Apple Auctions.  All rights reserved.

(You can hear this story “live” in my free call, “The Five Myths Holding You Back From Making Big Money at Your Auction Fundraiser.”)

About 8 years ago, I’d been paid by a Pennsylvania art company to conduct an all-art auction.  As a hired gun, I was to arrive onsite at a given time and conduct the event.

First I was accosted by the disgruntled client who was extremely unhappy with the type of art that had been shipped to them.  “This doesn’t fit our crowd!” one of the committee members said.

Whoops, too late.

Then I unintentionally insulted the truck driver.  He reacted strongly, “hissing” at me all night as he moved artwork.  Later I learned that he’d been in a bad mood long before I’d arrived, thanks to a confrontation with the auction committee.

The auction was rough with few bids (argh, that art selection), but I managed to get through it, despite my nervousness.

I wasn’t out of the woods.  As I tallied the auction results, it became clear that all of those consigned pieces and the resulting “no sales” had taken a toll on the evening’s hoped-for revenue.  The nonprofit was required to pay a certain amount of money onsite, but the auction committee was adamant they wouldn’t pay.  In their mind, the art company made egregious errors.

I cried all the way home.  All 3.5 hours.

If I could go back to that night and tell my younger self everything I know now, the first 3 years of my auction life would have been much, much better.

If you’re working on a benefit auction, you’re likely struggling.  You’re doing it the hard way, without realizing it.

You see, after interviewing dozens and dozens of auction chairs, I’m spilling the research beans.  This is how women like you answered the question, “If only I’d known X.”  It’s what they’d tell their younger pre-auction self.

On October 27 I’ll be hosting a free call to reveal The Five Myths Holding You Back From Making Big Money at Your Auction Fundraiser.” These are the misconceptions of auction planners that hurt their event’s profitability.

I’ll also be sharing details of how you can get involved with my next Profitable Auction Blueprint® course, which will launch in November.

I’ll see you there!

P.S.  Lines are limited by my teleconference company, so don’t delay in signing up!  Register here.

© 2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

My friend Sandy Rees of www.GetFullyFunded.com has just released a new book on fundraising.

Last Friday, my friend Sandy Rees of Get Fully Funded released her new book, “Get Fully Funded:  How to Raise the Money of your Dreams.”  Sandy always has practical ideas, so I interviewed her on the topic of benefit auction volunteers.

Sherry:  Benefit auctions rely on volunteers.  What advice might you have for my readers?

Sandy:  There are three steps I like to address.

First, be clear about what you need.  As a fundraiser, you’ll soon realize that you need to clone yourself because you simply can’t do it all.  How do you clone yourself?  You get volunteers.

People will help, but they need to understand what you’re asking them to do.  Start getting clear about what you’re doing and even your process because you’ll be teaching that to others.  You’ll be explaining to people what they would need to do.

Second, recruit the right people.  You can’t assume that just because someone is involved in nonprofit she knows how to do something.

For example, at your benefit auction, you can’t assume that someone just “knows” how to greet a guest at registration and grasps the underlying process of check-in.  Or you might have a good-hearted person helping your nonprofit, but they come across wrong.  Maybe you shouldn’t ask that person to go out and ask for donations.  Think about the personality of the person.  Is it a good fit?  Will it work?

Sherry:  Yes, I see a number of auction committees recruit inappropriate people for raffle ticket sales, for instance.  Nice people, but not really sales people.  What’s the third step, Sandy?

Sandy:  You need to set them up for success.  Give them everything they need to do the job, and I mean everything:  materials … training … structure.  Whatever it looks like, set them up for success.

Sherry:  Here’s another common question.  Where would you suggest benefit auction planners find volunteers?

Sandy:  Just start asking around.  Does the Board know anyone who would want to play?  Instead of asking people to work or volunteer, ask them to come “play.” I do everything I can to make it fun.  I want them to have a win, because when they have a good experience, they will come back again.

Where are volunteers?  They are all over.  Keep your eyes open.  Spread the word.

I’ve used the organization’s newsletter, its website, social media, and simply asking current staff if they know someone.  Even as I’m out networking in the community, I ask people if they’d like to come and play.   I once used VolunteerMatch.com, and even that worked.  I was really surprised because I thought it might only work in the cities, but it worked in my rural area.

Here’s another tip:  Think about those volunteers who seem to be the most successful, create a profile of them, and then go find people just like them.  For instance, your profile for staffing an event is different than your profile for someone working in an office.

I once created “repetitive volunteers.”  At one of my jobs, I oversaw a telethon.  I needed 6-8 people to answer the phone live on TV.  They needed to look upbeat, sound pleasant, answer questions, and accurately record information.  I didn’t have to recruit beyond the second year because my first year volunteers worked so well and enjoyed it so much, they returned.

Sherry:  Those are some good tips.  I especially like the idea of “playing” versus volunteering.  It softens the edge.  Here’s another question I frequently hear.  How do you get your Board to help with the auction?

Sandy:  You can’t make the Board do anything.  If they haven’t bought in, they haven’t bought in.  If they aren’t interested in helping with your event … if they aren’t interested in bringing people to it or helping with procurement … then you’ve got a bigger problem than just that auction.

Sherry:  Exactly!  And that’s when I tell my nonprofits to call you because they need more help than I can give them.   Now tell me about your new book, Get Fully Funded:  How to Raise the Money of your Dreams?

Sandy:   I include many “how to” activities in the book – how to write a grant, how to raise money –  but there’s also a good portion on mindset, like making fundraising a priority.  To make it as easy as possible to implement, I’ve included 101 checklists and templates.  It’s one thing to give someone the information they need to run a program; it’s totally different to get them to implement it.  So the checklists help with, “Here’s the first step, and the next step, and the next.”

Sherry:  So is the book targeted towards Development Directors?

Sandy:  Development Directors of nonprofits, or Executive Directors responsible for fundraising. It teaches my fundraising system.

Sherry:  I’m already enjoying the first chapter, Sandy.  And thank you for your tips on benefit auction volunteers today.  (Reader: If you want information on the book, click here.)

Sandy:  My pleasure!

©2011 Red Apple Auctions Co.  All Rights Reserved.

P.S.  Ready for your free gift?  Learn “What Sold Like a Gem in 2010.”

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.