In this article, we will provide you with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up your live auction.
Trellis enables organizations to add live auction items and then be able to use our Checkin Tool or Sales Entry System to process payments on behalf of the winners.
Please Note:
We no longer offer online bidding for virtual or hybrid events.
How to Set Up Live Auction Items
1. From your Dashboard, click edit on the fundraiser you wish to add the live auction items to.
2. From the Builder Sidebar and select Silent & Live Auctions.
3. Enable Auctions via the toggle
4. Now add your auction items by selecting Auction Items and clicking Add Item in the top right corner.
5. Select "Live" as the Offering Type, complete your item's information and hit Save.
- You can use the Listing ID 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.
6. (Optional) Add your items' sponsors by selecting Auctions Sponsors and then click Add Sponsor at the top right area.
7. Add your sponsor details and hit Save.
How to Showcase Your Live Auction Items
There are two ways you can display your live auction items on your fundraiser home page: via a Custom Section, or via the Live Auction Preview section.
Heads Up!
Live auction items do not have their own pages, the same way silent auction items do.
Option 1: Create Custom Sections (Recommended)
Custom sections on your fundraiser home page allow you to add whatever content you would like to showcase your live auction items. Since they are completely custom, you can show the full description of the live auction item.
- Head to your home page editor in your fundraiser builder
- Click the blue plus to add a new section
- Select Custom Section
- Choose Two Columns
- On one of the columns, change the section from text to an image. You can select a single image or a gallery.
- Now add an image for your live auction item.
- Add a custom description for your live auction.
- Once finished, save and publish your fundraiser.
Please Note:
Custom Sections do not automatically connect to the auctions builder, so you will need to add these sections manually.
Option 2: The Live Auction Preview Section
The Live Auction Preview section connects to your auctions builder to automatically display Live Auction Items.
Please Note:
- This preview only shows 6 items.
- The preview only shows a snippet of the live auction item description
- The items are not clickable, as live auction items do not have their own pages.
- 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 options for donor participation.
This article will walk you through how to process payments on Trellis following your live auction.
Did this answer your question? If not, please reach out to the Trellis Support Team via support@trellis.org.