How to use Hashtags to your Advantage

How to use Hashtags to your Advantage Banner

What exactly is a hashtag? Hashtags are metadata tags used on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, and other microblogging services, that help users easily find messages with specific content or themes.

Simply put, a hashtag is a keyword or keyphrase led by a pound or hash sign and typed out without spaces—#AuctionFrogs and #Fundraisers, for example. You can (and should!) include them in all of your social media posts—at the beginning, at the end, or anywhere in between.

Hashtags tie public conversations from different social media users into a single stream. These streams can be found by searching for them, clicking on them, or using third-party monitoring tools. When used properly, hashtags are a great way for you and your brand to make your posts more visible and engaging. They give your audience useful context, cues for recall, aggregate posts and images together, and update like-minded followers on specific topics in real-time.

Quick Tips for your Facebook posts

Facebook creates some unique challenges when tracking how users are interacting with your hashtags. Due to the volume of private profiles, it can prove more difficult to pull complete metrics on your hashtags’ performance.

So, why should you bother trying to incorporate hashtags into your Facebook efforts? Here are a few key reasons why it’s important to include them in your posts:
  • Using hashtags in your Facebook posts make your posts searchable, which is especially important when you consider the multitude of searches Facebook handles every day.
  • Data shows that Facebook posts with hashtags get as much as 12.6% more engagement than posts without them.

Quick Tips for your tweets

Hashtags can be used anywhere in the body of your Tweets. Place them at the beginning for emphasis, add them at the end for context, or let them live in the middle of your post to highlight a keyphrase. They can also be added to your comments when you retweet a tweet, when you reply to a tweet, and even in your Twitter bio!

Take a look at these easy-to-follow Dos & Don’ts:
  • DO encourage your audience to use your hashtags—and give them a reason to use them! Offer a prize or some simple recognition to followers with a Retweet. Either way, your audience will respond better when there is an added value to their participation and engagement..
  • DO use branded hashtags. Twitter Ads allow you to add a fun, visual element whenever your hashtag is used by your followers. These branded hashtags are shown to increase engagement by up to 10%, so if you have room in your budget, give Twitter Ads a try!
  • DO partner with influencers or followers to gain exposure and visibility for your brand.
  • DON'T use ALL-CAPS. Unless your hashtag is an acronym, ones displayed in all-caps feel a bit like shouting. Plus, since they are case-sensitive, those in all-caps will require extra effort for your followers to type out.
  • DON'T try to force your hashtags. They are meant to be inclusive, shareable, and discoverable. If it doesn’t organically fit within a Tweet, it will feel forced and lose its intended purpose.

Quick Tips for your Instagram stories

While you can post hashtags in your image captions, you may want to consider moving them to the comments section instead. Including your hashtags as your post’s first comment allows your followers to focus on the great caption you’ve written first.

Much like with Twitter, it is also possible to include hashtags in your Instagram profile bio. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to do so!

Best hashtagging practices

  • Be Specific: When using a hashtag to join a conversation, make sure it is specific and relevant to your topic. Vague and generic usage won’t be very effective or engaging for your audience.
  • Keep it Simple: Hashtags, like hyperlinks, look like spam if they are overused. Keep it to a maximum of three in your posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter (you can get away with a bit more on Instagram). And, be careful not to use the same hashtag twice in one post.
  • Give Context: A tweet or post that contains only hashtags is confusing to social media followers. Be sure to provide context with relevant captions so that you are adding to the conversation.
  • Do your Research: Hashtags are often related to current events and cultural trends. If you’re unsure what one might be referencing, research it on multiple social platforms before including it in your posts. If you’re creating a brand new hashtag, make sure it’s not already being used first.
  • Keep it Short: Don’t string too many words together to create your keyphrase. The best hashtags are relatively short and easy to remember.
  • Capitalize: Remember, hashtags are not case sensitive. If you are combining multiple words together to create your keyphrase, capitalize the first letter of each word to make it easier to read and understand.

Use Auction Frogs for your next Online Auction

Our platform is feature-rich, simple to use, and yields great results. It allows for an unlimited number of item and image uploads, plus it can be customized to reflect your brand identity. And, with a mobile-friendly user experience, bidders can participate on any smart device.

So, get in touch today to see how we can help make your next virtual fundraiser a successful one!

3 Steps to Better Email Marketing

3 Steps to Better Email Marketing Banner

When hosting an online auction, it is important to maintain communication with bidders to keep them up-to-date on how your auction is progressing. Email marketing is one of the best ways to engage your audience. Here are three easy steps you can follow to build better, more “clickable” email campaigns that will stand out in any inbox.

Step 1 | Start email marketing with an eye-catching subject line

Your email subject line is the most important part of your entire email. A boring subject line could cause your email to become buried under hundreds of others. Or even worse, be flagged as spam.
  • Use Emojis: Studies have shown that emotional content increases the effectiveness of email marketing as much as 70%! Emojis are there to visualize the emotion your message is suggesting. When used in email subject headlines, emojis help separate your email from the sea of other emails in your subscribers' accounts.
  • Breaking News: People love news. To be more specific, they love breaking news. Using such announcements in your email subject line is a great way to spark interest with your audience. But, you need to use words that suggest urgency to instigate clicks, such as “Alert” and “Tomorrow."
  • FOMO: FOMO stands for the "Fear Of Missing Out." By including phrases like “Last Chance” or communicating a time limit like “Last Hour,” you can significantly boost your email open rates. Email subject lines that use FOMO with a sense of urgency have a higher open rate—22% over those that don’t.

If subject lines aren’t constructed carefully, you are more likely to see a decrease in open rates, a decrease in conversions, and an increase in spam reports. To avoid this, you should be aware of words that perform terribly in subject lines, such as Newsletter, Journal, Forecast, and Training.

Step 2 | Fill the body of your email with captivating content

Once you pull your readers in with a subject line, your next task is to deliver engaging, informative content in the body of your email that is well organized and easy to read.
  • Write for the Web: Writing email marketing copy is similar to writing web copy. That means it’s important to follow a logical structure, keep paragraphs short, and only include one main idea per paragraph. Use bullets and subheadings to break up blocks of text and make your emails scannable.
  • Consider Mobile Readers: Mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) are used with increasing frequency for reading email. Since only the first few lines of text are displayed as a preview on mobile devices, your first words must contain compelling information or a strong call-to-action.
  • NO SHOUTING: Avoid all-caps and multiple exclamation points in both the subject lines email bodies. Not only are all-caps the equivalent of shouting online, but overuse screams spam, which will hurt your open rate.
  • Visuals Matter: Adding photos, videos, and graphics are just as important in email marketing as they are on social media. Be sure to use aesthetically pleasing color schemes in your email marketing—ones that are eye-catching but still readable.
  • Links, Links, Links: Link as much media as you can back to your website. Add links to your social media accounts, and most importantly, check that all your links are working properly before you send your email.

Step 3 | End by inviting your readers to take action

A call to action is a word, phrase, or sentence that encourages your readers to take a specific action. With the right call to action, you can persuade readers to do something specific, like buying tickets or registering for your online auction.
  • Use Action Words: The best calls to action use action words that let your readers know the specific action they should take next.
  • Create Urgency: Calls to action also use urgency and scarcity to trigger FOMO, making it more likely that your readers will take action. Include a countdown or use language like “Now” and “Today."
  • Get Personal: Good CTAs get personal. While some address readers directly, you can get better results by including CTAs that reflect their control of the process. Try using “Me” instead of “You” in your copy to accomplish this.
A good CTA avoids friction words that might make people hesitate. This removes some of the obstacles that get in the way of readers taking action. Avoid using Friction Words such as  Download, Buy, Order, and Submit.

These 3 Steps to Building Better Marketing Emails have been proven to increase the success of email marketing campaigns, and we hope they will do just that for you. Take a tour of Auction Frogs today to get started with your next online fundraiser today!

How to source Auction Items for a Winning Virtual Fundraiser

How to source Auction Items for a Winning Virtual Fundraiser Banner

Auctions are one of the best ways for nonprofit organizations to raise funds. Courting businesses and individuals willing to donate or sponsor auction items is a crucial part of that process. The quality of goods and services you’re able to acquire is integral to the success of your fundraising initiative. 

Let’s explore some methods you can use to procure great auction items for your next event!

Strategize for Success

Once you have a strategy, you can actively seek and solicit auction items. Build your game plan based on:

  • Strategies that worked well in previous years
  • New ideas that work with your target market's income level and budget

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

First things first, you need to assemble an item procurement team. Your team should be comprised of committee members who have the gift of the gab. Look for people with charm and diplomacy who can call on a vast social network to obtain coveted goods and services.

If your team is small, don’t worry. Be sure to plan early (preferably a six months to a year in advance). You’ll be surprised by how much even a one-man show can accomplish! Sound people skills can help you distinguish between donors who are short on time and those who want you to invest time in exchange for a high-impact donation.

Lay it All Out

Put together a PR kit with brochures and links depicting what your organization does. Include facts about previous auctions you’ve held such as the number of bidders that participated. Don’t forget, explain how your virtual event works. This includes what would be expected of donors when it comes to fulfilling their end of the transaction.

Your PR kit can provide auction items suggestions to give your business donors inspiration. Customize these ideas for your wishlist businesses in the body of an email or on a phone call. Just remember, it’s easy to ignore emails, so try and make a call first to establish a personal connection.

Warm-Calling

Colleagues, stakeholders, previous donors from a database, friends, and family are all good sources of auction items. They’re familiar with your cause and have likely witnessed the positive outcomes of your organization’s fundraising projects.

If you’ve thanked them appropriately in the past, there’s a solid chance they will be willing to proffer bid-worthy items again. Your loyal donors and supporters are your first port of call.

Cold-Calling

Cold-calling and cold-pitching can reap rewards so don’t shy away from approaching businesses out of the blue. Highlight the advantages of participating as an item donor. For example, advantages could be greater brand exposure or an enhanced reputation via visible corporate social responsibility or sponsorship.

Remember, the community you engage doesn’t necessarily have to be local. It can include companies from further afield who have an online presence that resonates with your core audience. As long as you’re not trying to ship items across the world, it should be a-okay.

Harness the Power of Social Media

If your campaign messaging is creative, you can tug on the heartstrings and purse strings of hundreds of potential donors via social media. Crowdfunding and crowdsourcing are remarkable elements of the internet age. In the digital world, the generosity of clicktivists and regular folks alike acts as a counterbalance to vicious trolling. Craft a compelling narrative and it can find its way to people in the mood for a random act of kindness. 

Cast your net wide and you’ll find treasure. You can group smaller items in lovely gift baskets and hampers so no contribution is too small. Don’t forget, stipulate that you’re not looking for second-hand items. High-end thrift items and antique auctions are niches that don’t work for everyone.

Cash donations are welcome too. You can use these to curate vacation items, or organize discounted sports tickets, live performances or any other experiences you feel are missing from confirmed offerings. By doing so, you’ll be able to stretch donations even further and maximize the good you can ultimately do with those funds.

Record-Keeping for the Win

Be sure to use pledge and procurement forms to record important details. Log physical goods and intangible items such as gift cards, donor particulars, starting bids, and any other relevant logistical information. Collate and meticulously track received goods that your organization will need to warehouse and distribute. The best part, virtual gift vouchers and codes can be stored in a secure folder in the cloud!

Key Takeaway

Auction item acquisition is a challenging but satisfying aspect of planning your fundraising event. You can score fantastic items for an online, silent, or live auction. A little planning and determination will serve you well, as will an enthusiastic and polite procurement team. Good luck!

Try Auction Frogs for Your Next Online Auction

Our platform is feature-rich, simple to use, and yields great results. It can be customized to reflect your brand identity. Our platform allows for an unlimited number of item and image uploads. And, with a mobile-friendly user experience, bidders can participate on any smart device. You can streamline your auction item procurement with site-integrated donation forms. And there’s even a dedicated space for donor advertising!

So, whether you’re a school or a nonprofit organization, get in touch to see how we can help make your next virtual fundraiser a successful one.

How to Pivot From a Traditional Gala Auction to a Virtual Event

How to Pivot from a Traditional Gala Auction to a Virtual Event Banner

Virtual Events are popular. In fact, almost one-third of adults in the US have participated in one. While traditional gala auctions offer a great way to connect with your supporters and raise more funds, a Virtual Event can be a great alternative.

Plus, pivoting from an in-person event to a virtual one doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right planning and tools, you can host a virtual fundraiser that gets great results. Let’s take a look so you can start planning your Vitual Event.

Step 1 | Set Goals for your Virtual Event

Your goals may need to change if you are pivoting from a traditional gala event to a Virtual Event. For starters, your reach may be different—meaning your potential participants could very well change. Consider reevaluating your attendance and participation goals.

A Virtual Event allows you to reach more people than you may otherwise since those who are not in the immediate geographic area can participate online. In addition, because there is not a traditional gala event, your audience can even participate if they have other plans.

You may also want to take a second look at how much funds you expect to raise through your Virtual Event. You may be able to increase your goals since virtual fundraising can allow more people the opportunity to give. 

Step 2 | Plan Your Virtual Program

Just because you aren’t hosting a traditional gala event doesn’t mean you can’t have a full program. A Virtual Event can still feature presenters, performances, speakers with testimonials, and many other options.

You can use a previous gala event program as your starting point. However, keep in mind that during a virtual program you will definitely want to keep your participants’ attention. Quick transitions between segments can help keep them engaged.

You should make sure to be very clear with your presenters how the program will flow and how a Virtual Event works. Having a host can help everything flow more smoothly.

When planning the schedule, remember that you should make a donation call to action early during the event. Then, be sure to ask often throughout the rest of the Virtual Event. Attendees may join or leave at various times, so you want to try to catch them at the appropriate times.

Step 3 | Determine Your Platform, Resources, & Materials

Once you know what your program will look like, you can start to gather the resources and materials that you need. One of the biggest decisions to make is what platform you will use to stream your Virtual Event. This will be determined by what you plan to do during the program.

For example, if you want to show slides, videos, or multiple presenters, you would need a screen-sharing service. You should think about whether you plan on having a live stream or using pre-recorded videos.

You will also need a platform that can host the actual auction. Services such as Zoom can’t handle this, so you should look into a dedicated virtual auction program, like us here at Auction Frogs!

Our Virtual Event platform can host your auction items and capture bids. Plus, additional features such as online pledge capture, ad space for supporters, and a goal thermometer makes hosting a Virtual Event with Auction Frogs even easier and more successful.

You may also need additional materials, such as microphones and webcams. These items are sometimes forgotten until the last minute but can make a big difference in helping your Virtual Event run smoothly.

Step 4 | Promote Your Virtual Event

Promoting your Virtual Event effectively is incredibly important. Your event can either have paid ticketing or be free to participate. Creating an RSVP form will allow you to get the information for those who are planning on attending.

When you are promoting auctions online, it’s important to take advantage of every marketing channel you have. Make sure to send emails and text messages to those on your mailing list. You can even use direct mail.

Social media is a great way of reaching more people, even those outside of your normal fundraising circle. Create eye-catching graphics and be sure to share them on all of your social media channels.

Step 5 | Have a Dress Rehearsal

A dress rehearsal is vital, especially if your organization has never hosted a Virtual Event before. Dress rehearsals will help ensure everything will run smoothly, which can also reduce nerves and stress among your team members.

If you are having guest presenters, have them test their equipment and make sure they are comfortable with their role. If you plan on showing a video or other media, have a test play to make sure it plays correctly.

You should also test the participant experience. Make a test donation to be sure all of your content and messaging is set up how you want it. Also, click through the event pages and all the links to ensure your attendees can access the event.

Step 6 | Host Your Virtual Event

Testing everything and having a step-by-step plan will ensure your Virtual Event runs smoothly. On the day of, make sure you have fun with your fundraiser. Interact with your audience and thank your supporters.

After your Virtual Event is over, you can rehash what went well with your team and how you can grow your fundraiser for the next year.

Pivot to a Successful Virtual Event

Virtual Events for nonprofits are a great way to reach a larger audience than you ever could with a traditional gala auction. While pivoting to a Virtual Event may be a little scary, plenty of planning and the right tools will make your event a fundraising success.

Take a tour of Auction Frogs to get started with your Virtual Event today!

How to Write a “Killer” Donor Thank You Letter

How to write a Killer donor Thank You letter Banner

The year is coming to a close. Fundraising campaigns are reaching their conclusion and now there’s one big thing left to do… Whether you love it or hate it, writing meaningful Donor Thank You Letters is an important job in the effort to keep your donors coming back for the next year and next campaign.  It’s a tough job, but quite possibly the most important one of the year.

Knowing that your donor thank you letter is your first step toward donor retention, how do you go about crafting a letter that makes sure:

  • Donors feel like they did the right thing by giving to your cause?
  • Your words are memorable, keeping your donors close?
  • Donors give and give again in support of your organization?
  • Donors know you think they matter?

Keep it short and sweet

Brevity is your advantage, so keep your donor thank you letter prompt and to the point. Donors aren’t looking for another fluffy sales pitch, as they’ve already made the choice to give to your cause. So ditch the formal jargon and unnecessary verbiage, and be concise in what you’re wanting to say.

Don’t continue to ask for action, as this can be viewed as pushy and takes up unnecessary paper space. Instead, include a pledge form and return envelope, but leave out the ask in the body of your letter and focus on the support your donors have already given.

Make your thank you letter personal

Be casual, be warm, be gracious (but not sugary). Donors want to know that you think they are important, because they are. Your organization may not be where it is today without your donors, so keep that in mind when writing your donor thank you letter. Open with their name and celebrate their partnership with you. Be sure to focus on THEIR impact in their own community.

Leave out phrases like “Your gift will help us do… ” and instead use “Your gift will make…  …happen.” Be specific about how their gift will make a measurable difference to those who benefit. And, don’t forget to include a contact name and phone number of someone your donor can reach out to for specific answers to questions about their gift and where it’s going!

Wear your heart on your sleeve

Remember, it’s okay to show your own excitement about your fundraising success, and exclamation points ARE an appropriate form of punctuation every now and then. Using lines like “I can’t begin to thank you enough for…” and “We are thrilled to have your support again…” to convey your own excitement will cultivate donor excitement and keep them coming back year after year.

Be positive, upbeat, and speak directly to the individual who will be reading the letter. Donors won’t be wooed by a lofty and distant tone, so make sure you are creative and charming (but sincere) in your writing.

Be a master of "The Tell"

Each time you draft a donor thank you letter, freshen up the content with a new anecdote. Tell a real story about who benefits from your donor’s gift or about how they benefited. This will help to reconfirm the purpose of your donor’s gift and assure them that their donation is being used to make a difference.

Or better yet, have those that benefited tell their OWN story! There’s nothing more powerful and moving for your donors than to receive direct thanks from those they directly helped.

The power of TWO thank you letters

You already know the impact that a single donor thank you letter can make. Now imagine what two can do! Donors want to feel connected to your entire organization, not just be a cog in your fundraising wheel.

Involve your board and your volunteers in the writing and storytelling process. This will help forge a stronger relationship between your donors and your organization by fostering all-inclusive involvement. Make sure the writer signs the thank you letter, and encourage them to include a personal note below.

Now armed with the above, go forth and craft that killer Donor Thank You Letter! Be cool, be confident, and be concise. Your donors will thank you for it, year after year.​

10 Strategies to Get the Most out of Your Next Online Auction

10 Strategies to get the most out of your next Online Auction Banner

With longer bidding timeframes and larger bidding audiences, Online Auctions are a great way for nonprofit organizations to raise extra funds throughout the year. Whether this is your first Online Auction or your 100th, here are 10 Strategies from our fundraising experts to help your next virtual fundraiser be your best!

1 | Research what worked and plan your changes

If you’ve held an Online Auction in the past, take a look at that past activity and reports to help inform your decisions moving forward.

  • Did all items sell for at least the stated fair market value?
  • Which items had the most bidding activity?
  • How many registered users participated?
  • On what days and at what times did bidding activity spike?

2 | Find the right time frame for your Online Auction

We find that spring and fall are the most popular fundraising times of the year.

  • Be mindful of any upcoming holidays
  • From Thanksgiving to New Year's, wallets are typically tighter
  • Don’t end your auction over a holiday weekend when bidders might not be close to their devices

Consider the length of your fundraiser as well. Keeping an Online Auction open for too long may result in a loss of interest, but a too-short bidding timeframe cuts down on participation. We recommend a three-week bidding timeframe for new Online Auctions; two weeks or less for returning ones.

3 | Spotlight your Online Auction sponsors

Just because you’re not having a gala, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost sponsorship potential! There are plenty of ways to showcase your sponsors in an Online Auction.

  • Create an attractive campaign by offering varying levels of support (the higher the sponsorship, the more visible the placement on your auction site)
  • Give your sponsors more exposure by creating a custom information page on your Online Auction site dedicated to thanking your sponsors
  • Hyperlink all logos for quick navigation to your sponsors' website

4 | Cultivate clear item categories

Item categories make site navigation easier for your audience. Make sure each item is listing in at least one informative category. Consider categories names such as:

  • Food & Drink
  • Travel Experiences
  • Self-Care
  • For the Family
  • Outdoor Adventures
  • Apparel & Jewelry

We also recommend using a numbering system that is specific to each category. For example, all items in the “Food & Drink” category would be in a sequential numbering group (i.e. the 100s).

5 | Price your items for multiple demographics

Offer a range of price points to appeal to a larger audience. Each bidder will have a different wallet size, so try to include varying starting bids so that everyone can participate. This will help cultivate bidding competition!

6 | Make your Online Auction items pop

Spice up your item listings to increase interest in, and to better sell your auction items.

  • Make items stand out by creating titles that catch your bidders' eye
  • Ditch boring descriptions and get bidders engaged with interesting, informative details
  • Be sure to include all the details and restrictions you can
  • Include donor information and logos that links back to donor websites
  • Add a variety of photos that showcase the item (or better yet, add a video!)

7 | Promote, promote, and then promote some more

Get the early word out about your Online Auction through as many channels as possible.

  • Utilize social media to share auction dates, sneak peeks, and highlight items
  • Encourage sponsors, donors, staff, and key supporters to share through their own social media channels
  • Send out email blasts to your pre-existing newsletter lists and contact databases
  • Contact local community forums to place a post about your fundraiser

Make sure your Online Auction is highly visible and easy to navigate to from wherever you are posting or advertising it.

8 | Analyze audience trends and bid activity

Keep an eye on bid activity for all of your auction items. Towards the end of your auction, if there are items without bids, consider dropping starting bids 20–30%. With an Online Auction through Auction Frogs, you can take advantage of our Fire Sale feature and automate starting bid reduction by scheduling the price drop ahead of time!

Don’t forget, highlighting and featuring items without bids will draw more attention to them. Be sure to share them on social media, too!

9 | Establish clear payment and pickup instructions

90% of all questions asked by bidders are how to pay for items they have won and where to pick those items up. Make sure to establish these instructions clearly and early on so that participants feel comfortable and confident with the item claim process before they start bidding.

10 | Review your revenue and celebrate your success

After the auction is over, review winning all of the bids, item purchases, and monetary donations.

  • Check out your Summary Report and confirm all the data is as expected
  • Publicly celebrate your fundraising success through posts and newsletters
  • Let your audience know how they can continue to support your cause
  • Thank winners, sponsors, and donors who contributed to your fundraiser

With these 10 Strategies, a great web-based fundraising platform, and a little bit of hard work, your next Online Auction will be a great success! Take a tour of Auction Frogs to get started with your next online fundraiser today!