Increase Your Bidder Pool!
Think about this. Building a large bidder pool is the number one step you can take to guarantee reaching your fundraising goal. That makes sense, right? That’s because as your bidder pool increases, so do the number of bids that are placed on your items or services offered at your auction.
Think about how many people are on your auction committee and how many people they know. If you have a board, consider the same for them. Whether you realize it, you already have a large circle of influence to tell about your auction. Promoting your auction to a wider audience is key to getting results. CharityAuctionsToday has a variety of features built into its platform to help you reach the right people, places, and channels to spread the word about your online auction.
More Bidders = More Impact
You now have strategies to attract bidders. Let’s turn that into action — launch your auction, engage your audience, and see the number of bidders rise.
Launch Your Bidder-Engaging AuctionIf you’re ready to increase your bidder pool today, here are five tips to consider as you share your upcoming online auction with your network, audience, or customers.
Invite Your Community
One of the easiest ways to increase your bidder pool is to invite your entire community. Share your online auction with friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, and customers to drive awareness (and donations) for your upcoming event.
As you tap into your network, you also increase the chances of people around you sharing your online auction with their own networks as well. To make that process easier, CharityAuctionsToday allows users to add social media buttons to their online auction so anyone who visits the page can instantly share the event on Facebook or Twitter.
For those who aren’t able to make a donation, simply sharing the online auction on social media can go a long way in generating success for the event or organization.
Email and Mailing Lists
Whether you have existing email and mailing lists or you’re considering adding new ones, taking advantage of the names at hand can seriously boost your bidder pool.
Like social media, tapping into email and mailing lists can help you get the word out about your online auction while reaching potential bidders who may not be in your immediate network.
Increase Social Media Followers
Building your social media following can build awareness for your online auction at the same time. The more followers you have, and the larger of an audience you reach, the more eyeballs you’ll get on any upcoming or future auctions in the works.
A strong social media following is a great way to generate excitement around your online auction. Consider following or interacting with users who fit your criteria for potential bidders or fall within interest groups or communities that you’re targeting.
Pick the Right Items
Your items are your selling point. You’ll want to select and include items in your online auction that are thoughtful and fairly priced. This can significantly help entice bidders to place a bid, especially if the items resonate with their interests or community group.
Supporters will have a specific budget, so pricing accordingly matters. Whether you’re adding sports tickets, restaurant tickets, or gift baskets to your auction, consider your audience and what they might go far, starting with a price that’s fair and reasonable.
Create a Well-Designed Auction
First impressions are everything, right? That’s why creating a well-designed online auction from the get-go will make a lasting impression on bidders. Use smartly-crafted wording, add thorough descriptions to your items, and create a title that will draw attention while also making a statement with exactly what your online auction is about.
CharityAuctionsToday comes with a number of themes, color schemes, and more that can help you design a sleek and engaging online auction, yet those who want to customize their look even further can change their colors and page features.
Images matter more than you think, too. High-quality photos can actually help bidders or potential buyers trust your auction, adding credibility and increasing their chances of placing a bid. For additional tips on how to get more bidders, check out this video
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is increasing the number of bidders so important for our auction?
More bidders = more competition, higher closing prices, and better sell-through. A larger pool also reduces the risk that a few inactive guests depress bidding across the catalog.
What are five easy ways to get more bidders fast?
- Publish the catalog early with preview access and watchlists.
- Lower friction to register (wallet pay, short form, QR everywhere).
- Use ambassadors (board/volunteers) with share kits and short links.
- Feature irresistible items (experiences, VIP access) in promos.
- Run time-boxed boosts (happy hour match, free shipping window).
How does an early catalog preview increase bidder signups?
Let supporters browse 1–2 weeks early, “watch” items, and opt into outbid alerts. Curiosity turns into commitment once they see something they don’t want to miss.
What can we do to make registration effortless on mobile?
- Enable Apple/Google Pay and autofill; keep fields minimal.
- Place QR codes on every flyer, email, and sign; use a short link.
- Offer “register now, finish profile later” to capture momentum.
How do ambassadors help us recruit more bidders quickly?
Equip board, staff, and super-volunteers with a share kit: 2–3 images, a 1–2 sentence invite, a trackable short link, and a deadline. Recognize top recruiters on a public scoreboard.
Which items attract new bidders the fastest for ads and emails?
- One-of-a-kind experiences (chef dinners, VIP tours, “principal for a day”).
- Travel with flexible dates and clear terms.
- Family-friendly packages and “instant gratification” items (gift cards).
What message cadence brings in the most new bidders before opening night?
- Launch (T-10–14 days): preview + top items + register button.
- Mid-campaign: fresh items, sponsor highlight, urgency line.
- Final 72 hours: daily countdown + “register to get alerts.”
- Day-of: morning and final-hour reminders (opt-in SMS optional).
What kind of social posts actually convert scrollers into bidders?
- Short vertical video of a hero item with “Register to bid” overlay.
- Carousel of 3–5 items with a deadline and QR in the first frame.
- Outbid demo clip showing how fast mobile bidding works.
How should we set starting bids and increments to spur participation?
Start at ~30–40% of FMV with simple increments (5–10% of FMV). Low friction starts more bidding chains; competition drives the final price up.
Do early-bird incentives help grow the bidder list before launch?
Yes—offer a small perk (bonus raffle entry where allowed, early access window, or exclusive item preview) for anyone who registers by a set date.
Which gamification tools bring more people into the action without pressure?
- Friendly leaderboards (most bids placed, most items watched).
- Badges for first-time bidders or “early bird.”
- Milestone unlocks (extra item drop when 100 new bidders register).
How do we use partners and sponsors to recruit new bidders outside our list?
Give partners co-branded graphics and a short blurb with your QR link. In exchange for promotion, feature their logo and a thank-you shout-out during the event.
Where should we place QR codes and signs to capture new bidders in person?
Entry doors, check-in tables, bar/concessions, and table tents. Add a 7-word instruction (“Scan to register & receive outbid alerts”). Staff a “QR helper” station for quick onboarding.
What closing strategy maximizes bidder participation and reduces sniping?
Use staggered closings by category and enable auto-extend (if available) for items receiving last-minute bids. Announce the rules clearly and send a 15–30 minute warning.
How many items should we offer to keep bidding competitive?
Aim for roughly 1 item per 2–4 expected bidders. Tight curation concentrates demand and increases bids per item.
Do flash promos actually bring more people into the bidding?
Yes—try a “happy hour” with free delivery on certain items, a sponsor-funded prize for first-time bidders during a set hour, or a new-item drop announced minutes before it opens.
What messaging converts “window shoppers” into first-time bidders?
- “No cost to register—get alerts when you’re outbid.”
- “Every bid supports [impact]—even if you don’t win.”
- “You can set a max bid and let the system bid for you.”
How does shipping or pickup info impact bidder signups and activity?
Clear logistics remove friction. List pickup windows, shipping options/costs, and who to contact. Add “digital certificate delivered instantly” for experience items to reduce hesitation.
Which KPIs tell us if bidder recruitment is working before it’s too late?
- Daily new registrations vs. target line.
- Bids per item and % catalog with ≥2 bids.
- Outbid alerts sent (a leading indicator of activity).
How do we turn casual browsers into active bidders for the next auction?
- Send a quick thank-you + highlight reel to all registrants (even non-bidders).
- Ask them to star categories they like and opt into item alerts.
- Invite them to a mini off-season auction or flash sale to build the habit.
💡 Try this in ChatGPT
- Summarize the article "5 Easy Ways to Get More Bidders" from https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/5-easy-ways-to-get-more-bidders/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
- Turn the article "5 Easy Ways to Get More Bidders" (https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/5-easy-ways-to-get-more-bidders/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
- Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "5 Easy Ways to Get More Bidders": https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/5-easy-ways-to-get-more-bidders/.
- Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this FAQ topic using the article at https://ghost.charityauctionstoday.com/p/5-easy-ways-to-get-more-bidders/.
Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.
