In this article, we will provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to easily set up your live auction.
Trellis enables organizations to add live auction items and let your donors know that you will have a live auction that will happen during your event using a preview section then participate online or do a hybrid of paddle raising then be able to use our Checkin Tool or Sales Entry System to add the items to your donors' cart.
1. Login to your Trellis account.
2. On your Dashboard, choose the fundraising page you wish to use for your silent auction and click Edit.
3. Navigate to your Sidebar Settings and select Silent & Live Auctions.
4. Toggle the Enabled Auctions on.
5. (Optional) Add your items' sponsors by selecting Auctions Sponsors and then click Add Sponsor at the top right area.
6. Add your sponsor details and hit Save.
Pro Tip:
You can leave the connected auction items empty. You will be able to connect the sponsor of the item when you add the items later on.
7. Now add your auction items by selecting Auction Items and clicking Add Item at the top right area.
8. Select "Live" as the Offering Type and make sure you complete your item's information and hit Save.
- You can use the listing number as your key identifier.
- In the Tags/Categories field, simply enter the tag or category that you want to use, and then press enter. This will automatically generate and assign the tag to your item. Please note that currently, there is no feature to delete existing tags, but you can easily replace them by retyping or entering a new tag.
- Attachments via email are commonly utilized for intangible items like electronic gift cards. These attachments are exclusively sent to the winning bidder.
- Organizations often choose to include additional fees, either fixed or a percentage, to cover shipping fees or taxes. If there are any additional fees, a note will be visible to the donor when they place a bid. However, it is highly recommended that organizations also include this information in the item description to ensure that donors are well-informed.
- In the "Connected Sponsors" field, you have the option to type in and search for the sponsors you have previously added, and then link them to the item. This allows you to easily connect the sponsors to the items in your silent auction.
Pro Tip:
Not sure how to price your items?
- Best practices recommend your starting bid should be 40% of the value of your item
- Your bid increment should be 10%
- Your Buy Now should be 150%
- And ultimately, your goal should be to raise an additional 20% on the item value.
8. To add a preview and let your donors know that there's a live auction that's going to happen during your event, head back to your Fundraiser Builder, click on the Blue Plus Button in the middle of your screens, and select Live Auction Preview.
Pro Tip:
This preview only shows 6 items, it will now allow your donors to preview all items before the event. If you want to show a preview of all your items you may want to add a custom section and create your own preview manually.
9. Now hit Publish Changes located on your Status Bar.
10. Lastly, make your Page Live if you haven't yet done so already.
You can click on the image below to view the test page that we have set up for your reference. Feel free to visit the page and see how it appears.
Please note that the countdown for when the live auction opens is determined by the event date and time that you have set up in your Event Settings and is not customizable.
Now that you have added your live auction items and their sponsors, and informed your donors about the upcoming live auction on your homepage, you are now ready to explore the various options for donor participation.
No matter if you prefer a completely online live auction or a hybrid approach, Trellis provides the necessary tools for you to seamlessly implement your desired auction format.
Choose your desired auction format below:
Online Live Auction Participation
Hybrid Live Auction Participation
Did this answer your question? If not, please reach out to the Trellis Support team via the blue chat icon or email support@trellis.org.