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It’s Genius, SignUp Genius

 October 20, 2025 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
a logo for SignUp Genius

This week a terrific nonprofit in Orlando is hosting their 6th annual online auction benefiting programs for seniors. This is no ordinary online auction – there are over 300 items to bid on! Unlike an online auction happening during a gala where people just grab their winnings that night, this online-only event means there are over 300 baskets and certificates that will need to be picked up next week at their office!

HOW do they manage smooth and organized item handovers the easy way? With SignUp Genius. Setting it up is fast, easy and can even be free to use. Simply add the link to your winning invoices and you’re all set to have all their purchases together before their appointment. Give this handy tool a try.

Comments are closed - Categories: Charity, Event Logistics, Online Auctions, Technology

Add a Countdown Clock

 October 10, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Image of a Countdown Clock

Here it is, the fastest, easiest, most effective addition I’m seeing lately: adding a bold countdown on your big screen(s) at the front of the room to alert the audience that in exactly 12 minutes and 34 seconds you’re expecting their complete attention. Your emcee, auctioneer, or Voice of God announcer can make periodic reminders during this time as well. I like a 10- or 15-minute countdown (enough time for folks to refresh their drinks, wrap up conversations, find their tables, place a few more auction bids, etc.) On YouTube you will find many different themed styles, or you can make your own in Canva. It’s best to embed the timer rather than link to it, as a live link might have ads pop up. This visual cue has proven to be very effective at preparing an unfocused crowd to now give their attention to the stage and speakers.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Event Logistics, Great Ideas, Technology

Easy Uses for AI

 July 9, 2024 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
a graphic for AI

So, are you using AI for your nonprofit? If so, are you enjoying it? Finding it helpful, or just confusing? Or, are you freaked out yet?

Two easy uses I’ve found so far:

  1. With the Auctria online auction software, there’s built in AI to rewrite your auction package descriptions to make them more compelling
  2. Use https://designer.microsoft.com/image-creator to create free AI images in seconds for posts or when you need an image for an online auction entry.

There are myriad other AI uses for nonprofits. Remember when using it to write long-form text, go back and tweak it to make it your own message in your own voice.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Online Auctions, Technology

Teleprompter screen

 October 25, 2022 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

High-tech A/V was on display at The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards gala at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City on October 24th. I was asked to auction just 4 fantastic opportunities, including the chance to sing on stage with The Beach Boys!

Besides rubbing shoulders with Jose Andres and Branford Marsalis, I was impressed by the huge teleprompter screen straight out from the stage and behind the guests. It was so big it allowed the emcee and speakers to easily see their scripts scrolling. (I work from bullet points talking freely, not scripted comments.) I’ve seen a couple types of onstage teleprompters before but this large screen method I haven’t seen in Florida.

It was a beautiful night, and it was so much fun to be in NYC for work!

Comments are closed - Categories: Event Logistics, Technology

►Tech. Production. HELP!

 May 10, 2021 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS
Jenelle in studio

One thing we’ve learned in the past 18 months (and I hope you didn’t have to learn the hard way) is that your production team is EVERYTHING. Sure, there are fundraisers over Zoom. In some cases, bidding happens in the chat box. But all of these events rely on tech.

I’ve seen costs for event production this year from $3000 to $50,000. Crazy range, right? That means you need to get at least 3 quotes, and you need to learn enough to communicate what you’re asking for, what you envision. Will your speakers need a TelePrompTer? Will you need an afternoon in advance to pre-record some segments or speakers? Will you need a dress rehearsal? What about editing for your videos? Planning to film on-site or in their studio? (Do they even have a studio??)

Conversations with multiple vendors will help you learn the tech speak you need to get an accurate proposal and cost estimate. If you’re still not clear, reach out to a nonprofit whose online program you like to find out what it took to get that result.

Or, you can call me. I’ve got a list of specs compiled from the various streaming events I’ve done.

Comments are closed - Categories: Consulting, Event Logistics, Live Auctions, Technology

►”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

►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

►Working Women of Central Florida

 July 12, 2017 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

photo of speaker Jenelle Taylor

Thanks to Jessica Rivelli from Working Women of Tampa Bay for the invite to speak!

Did you miss it?

I’m happy to speak to your board, your staff, or civic groups like Rotary, Kiwanis or chambers of commerce.

Of course I can talk about auctions, and how to best support the causes you believe in, but some people don’t know that I also speak nationally on branding and marketing.

Things are changing all the time in social media.

Isn’t it time you got some help?

Call me to chat: Jenelle @ 407-791-1360 cell

Comments are closed - Categories: About GALA GAL, Consulting, Grab Bag, social media, Technology

►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

►Mobile Bidding Considerations

 July 7, 2015 - Author: Jenelle Taylor, CAI BAS

photo of auction display

Auction Bidding is Enhanced by Displays

Today a client asked me

“Quick question – mobile bidding. Does it enhance an auction? Have you seen increased participation (read larger bids) utilizing mobile bidding?”

and I replied:

 Good question!

Typically mobile only makes sense when there are a lot of attendees, a lot of auction items (100+) and the silent auction revenue is $30,000+.

Pros:

IF people use it, they can set max bids and not have to either log back in or walk to a table – most mobile bidding systems can just continue to bid for them up to a set maximum.

Auction displays can take less space

Everyone can see all the auction items if they wish (on a device) without walking around

You can close the bidding later

Cons:

Typically costs $3000-$5000+

Either you have to pay for one of the mobile company’s staff to be on site (could add $1000), or you’re 100% responsible for any kinks or problems. Unless you have a savvy tech person, this could add significant stress.

It can be hard to get people to engage in mobile bidding for several reasons:

 ~Some require downloading an app, though some just have a web address people key in

~Some say mobile is less social, since people move around less and must spend time staring at their phones

~Requires either than people use their cell phone data plans (and battery life) or the club has a reliable wi-fi connection that’s open to everyone; some mobile systems rely on wi-fi and can get bogged down or crash

Results:

Whether or not mobile adds revenue above and beyond the cost of using the technology is a source of heated debate! Just a few weeks ago auctioneers from around the country shared mixed reviews in an online forum. When the technology works as promised,  is adopted by the attendees and gets used, certainly there are benefits to being able to shop from anywhere in the venue and not have to physically revisit a bid sheet.

On the other side, paper silent auctions have worked for decades by generating that person-to-person, last-minute competitive bidding atmosphere, especially when your professional auctioneer is making announcements and making the auction closings fun for everyone in the room.

What mobile definitely does is eliminate the need to clerk, record, tally or key in silent auction purchases once bidding closes, and for some groups, that fact alone makes the technology worth several thousand dollars, just to eliminate checkout!

 There are 10-12 major mobile bidding companies nationwide, all scrambling for footing and market share. All have demos you can do or samples you can view.

Industry software leader Greater Giving has great educational info with just about everything you need to know about mobile here.

Because of the many pros and cons (and how those affect your overall revenue/schedule/logistics), it’s something you should ask your professional auctioneer about as early as possible.

Like this great client of mine did! Thanks for the question, Sara 🙂

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

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