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►Cruise Raffle

 August 23, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
lapel pin of blinking ship

Selling chances to win for that cruise or yacht trip!

Ah, the Chance to Win, doesn’t most every event have one?

Of course, the very first thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with your state’s (and sometimes city) raffle, gaming, gambling, drawing statutes.

Did you know that in Florida, you can’t require anyone to pay for a ticket?

Print out the Florida statute here.

Once you know the rules, this is a great option for the “blinky lights” pin to show who bought a chance to win (and, obviously, who hasn’t yet).

Do you know that Holland America has a reduced-price program that your nonprofit might qualify for? It’s a great program with a reasonable fixed cost, and never expires. Check it out here.

If you’re selling chances to win a cruise or a yacht excursion, instead of generic pins consider these cute things, found at FlashingBlinkyLights.com. It’s themed, flashy, and if you don’t want to pin into guests’ fancy clothes, then simply attach each to a lanyard or a wrist-tie ribbon like my client.

Here’s to selling those chances and raising big money!

Comments are closed - Categories: Better Buyers, Consulting, Event Logistics, Other Money Makers, Raffles/Chance Drawings

►”Lucky Line” with Mobile Bidding

 August 16, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
photo of mobile bidding incentive caption

Using Mobile Bidding? Add an incentive to get guests to Bid More!

Do you use the “Lucky Line” for your traditional silent auction bids on paper?

It’s a way to encourage folks to be more generous, give a little more, just jump down a few bidding lines rather than the next bid available. I’ve got an explanation in a viewable Google doc here.

For years we (the benefit auctioneer community) have been trying to replicate this bidder incentive with handheld mobile/text bidding, but to date most mobile technology companies haven’t figured out a way to virtually highlight only bids past a certain point, and then segregate just those for a random winner.

And then my new client shared a semi-solution!

While the one “who makes the most bids” isn’t random and may not encourage as many people to try for the prize as the Lucky Line highlighting does, it certainly is trackable in mobile bidding reports, AND worth celebrating and rewarding! Using the technique above, the organization rewards participation, not dollars, which is an equalizer of sorts.

How have you figured out ways to incentivize more bidding using technology?

 

Comments are closed - Categories: Better Buyers, Consulting, Event Logistics, Other Money Makers, Silent auctions, Technology

►3 Magic Words to Get Anything Donated

 August 2, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
photo of Jenelle Taylor

Today’s tip is about the “Three Magic Words” that help you get just about anything donated. In fact, these words elevate your request from an all-too-common “ask” to an opportunity.

Ready? Here they are: feature, showcase and highlight. And the question? How would you like to be included? 

Instead of begging for a donation, explain that  – of all the possible businesses in town – for this event you’d like to “feature” ABC Business so you can “highlight” their great ____________ and “showcase” what they do to your prominent supporters and community members. “Our committee thinks more people should know about your terrific ____________, so we wanted to invite you to have one of the exclusive (another good word!) spots in our live (or silent) auction. How would you like to be involved?”

If they say “no,” thank them and say (to yourself), “Next.” They either see the opportunity or they don’t, and someone always will when you share how wonderful your cause is and how much you want to include them in your biggest 1 night, once-a-year event.

So just ask! And remember: feature, showcase and highlight.

Comments are closed - Categories: About GALA GAL, Consulting, Event Logistics, Live Auctions, Other Money Makers, Silent auctions

►FUBI: Funny, Useful, Beautiful or Inspiring

 July 26, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Funny Useful Beautiful Inspiring

Don’t Interrupt – ATTRACT!

As I was preparing my 90-minute presentation on Branding and Marketing for the National Auctioneers Association annual conference, I came across this GREAT article from a cool-looking group: The Emotional Intelligence Agency. Their tagline is, “Be as interesting as the internet.”

In their recent article in Fast Company magazine, they explain how marketing has changed.

The buzz word now is “emotion,” and how to connect in memorable ways with your target audience.

There are “four kinds of emotionally compelling content: funny, useful, beautiful, and inspiring.”

They condense this to FUBI – an easy thing to remember when planning (or posting) on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Snapchat, You Tube, your website, or anywhere else.

You don’t have to be all of these, and, in fact, you should consider having a different tone on different platforms. Maybe your posts are funny on Twitter, useful on Facebook, and beautiful on Instagram. You might even assign a different person to manage each distinct “voice.”

So, for my presentation, I made this 4-leaf clover image, because if you focus on being funny, or useful, or beautiful, or inspiring with your posts and content, I bet you’ll get luckier with your results.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Grab Bag, Other Money Makers, social media, Technology

►A National Presentation!

 July 19, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
plaque NAA award Jenelle Taylor

Honored to present for the annual conference

On Thursday, July 13th I flew to Columbus, Ohio, to see hundreds of auctioneer friends.

Friday the 14th I was honored to present a 90-minute session to my peers and colleagues, all about who is attracting attention and staying top of mind in our industry.

I then gave them more than 30 tools and ideas to build their benefit auction businesses across the country.

Could your nonprofit use help branding and marketing?

I’m a national expert on that, too 🙂

(And I work with nonprofits on affordable short-term contracts and monthly retainers, unrelated to auction galas. Just call me, 407-791-1360, or use the CONTACT link on the home page.)

Comments are closed - Categories: About GALA GAL, Consulting, Other Money Makers

►Who’s the “Voice” of your nonprofit?

 July 5, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
photo of branding handout

Who’s the “voice” of your social media posts?

I’m a huge, huge fan of Entrepreneur magazine. In fact, if you’re not already following them on Facebook, seriously, click over there and do it right now.

I’ll wait.

It’s that important.

If you want to be smarter about, well – anything – you should be following Entrepreneur magazine on Facebook.

Their posts are 2- or 3-minute reads about stuff you want to know, and I guarantee you’ll see something each week you want to click on and open.

By the way, I don’t get anything for promoting them. I’m just a super fan.

When I was researching for my presentation to the Working Women of Central Florida, I came across this awesome article Entrepreneur mag posted, “22 Statistics That Prove the Value of Personal Branding.”

It’s about how we (people, you and me) connect better with people, not companies, and you’ll do yourself and your organization a 561% favor by letting your employee’s personalities show when they share posts about your cause.

Since you can control the tone, images and message you put out there, sit down and really think about how you want to be perceived. Is your org inspiring? Are your clients beautiful? Are your services useful? And isn’t life just funny sometimes? (NOTE: If you don’t yet know about FUBI, read about it here.)

You can even let different people shine in their elements. If you’ve got a stellar soul who can communicate all you want to say on all your platforms, give him or her a raise! Otherwise, try trusting your inner circle with the platform that best matches his or her personality, and see if you don’t get more likes, follows, and engagement from your fans.

Comments are closed - Categories: Board members, Charity, Consulting, Grab Bag, Other Money Makers, social media, Technology

►More Donations During Your Fund-A-Need

 March 21, 2016 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
photo of Jenelle Taylor

It pays to hire a professional!

This spring I tried out a fundraising technique popularized by a colleague of mine in the San Francisco Bay area. He calls it The Run Around, and it’s a way to encourage much more participation at your final fundraising level. By taking the emphasis off of the size of each gift and focusing on getting more and more people to give (and give again), you can raise more money AND end your Fund-A-Need ask on an upbeat note with the crowd’s support. Check out this 5-minute clip on YouTube to see how we raised $4200 with a $1500 item. GALA GAL does The Run Around

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Other Money Makers

►Raffle pricing

 May 1, 2015 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
poster showing raffle ticket pricing

Fingertips for $40

Recently a client asked me about raffle (Chance to Win drawings) pricing.

“I found this on-line as a guideline to selling tickets. Does this make sense?

Raffle ticket sales:  3 tickets for $5, 6 tickets for $10 and finger tip- to-finger tip $20″

Here’s my take:

1. Raffle chance pricing depends on the value of the prizes to be won.

2. Calculate the math equation: How much do you want the raffle to raise (have a goal),  who will be asked to buy tickets and what pricing feels exciting to them, and how many tickets (at what level) can you expect to sell? PRICE x QUANTITY = MONEY RAISED

3. In the example you found, “3-$5 and 6-$10” are the same odds, so there’s no incentive to spend $10 rather than $5.

4. The PURPOSE of unequal odds (increased chances for paying more) is to wildly slant the odds in favor of those more generous. We want to encourage folks to donate more. In Florida (and other states-check your state gaming statutes*) all chances to win do not have to be equal.

5. So, I like

3 – $10, 8 for $20, or fingertip-to-fingertip for $40.

That way the focus is just on selling $40 worth, and if someone is considering $20, have them grab a friend and get tons more chances by splitting the fingertip-to-fingertip (which might be 40-ish tickets)

If the prize(s) are smaller, you could go with 2-$5, 7-$10, fingertips for $20

*A reminder to always know and follow your state regulations on raffles, which often fall under gambling policies. In some states, nonprofits are limited to one per year or need a special license. In Florida (and other states) drawings are required to have a “no purpose necessary to be entered” option, which is why setting any pricing for a chance drawing must be disclosed as a “suggested donation” See the Florida statute here, and happy fundraising!

Comments are closed - Categories: Better Buyers, Charity, Consulting, Event Logistics, Other Money Makers, Raffles/Chance Drawings, Templates

►Best Auction Items

 August 28, 2014 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr

Picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr

This article made me smile!

I am always telling both nonprofit committees and auctioneers in the BOOTCAMP class I teach about the Best Categories for Auction Items, in order of desirability.

While most committees think they need to “get stuff” for the auction, in fact, “stuff” (physical items) often hasn’t the lowest potential for selling above retail value, because we all have enough “stuff” already, and we can all find out what “stuff” costs with a quick check of our phones.

But experiences? Experiences – whether exclusive, travel, attendance, pampering, indoor, outdoor, solo or group – experiences mean memories, the joy of human life.

And, according to this article http://qz.com/255963/another-reason-to-spend-money-on-experiences-rather-than-things-the-positive-benefits-of-anticipation/ research suggests that auction attendees will actually enjoy spending money more due to anticipation of a future experience!

“anticipation of an experience is more exciting and pleasant than the anticipation of a material purchase—regardless of the price of the purchase”

So, ask your Professional Benefit Auctioneer to help you brainstorm unique experiences for this year’s gala, and up the anticipation (and excitement) for your guests.

Oh, and after Experiences, what are the other Best Categories for Auction Items, in order of desirability?

1. Experiences

2. Food and Wine

3. Travel Near and Far

4. Entertainment

5. Pampering

6. “Stuff” (tangible items whose value is readily found online)

Go get creative! Call me for help 🙂

Comments are closed - Categories: Better Buyers, Consulting, Live Auctions, Other Money Makers, Silent auctions

►Give Day Tampa Bay!

 May 6, 2014 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Give Day Tampa Bay logo

May 6, 2014

Let’s DO this!

Please join me in helping great causes during this 24-hour fundraising challenge. Today, nonprofits in Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties who’ve registered for Give Day Tampa Bay will get a big boost in donations with your help.

Grab a friend, sit down with your kids, and simply click over to http://givedaytampabay.org/ and decide who should get your $25 (or more).

And don’t forget, numerous studies confirm that giving to charity usually increases your own happiness! How much money can greater Tampa Bay give in just one day?

Comments are closed - Categories: Charity, Other Money Makers

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