It’s Beginning to Feel A Lot Like…Cyborg Monday?
You may know that spring is the auction/gala season. Seemingly every organization in the world scrutinizes the calendar picking the perfect Saturday between February and April. I’m proud to say that BiddingForGood has given fundraisers the opportunity to think outside the box. Granted, what I will propose is not too far outside the box, but it is far enough to capitalize on momentum that is already there.
I recently worked with a client who wanted to run an online auction starting on Cyber Monday. I heard it as “Cyborg” Monday, though she assured me that it had nothing to do with Battlestar Galactica. Though I was initially disappointed at this, I learned something new! My new favorite day is the Monday immediately following Black Friday and refers to dramatic increase in online shopping that occurs. It also happens to be just before “Okay, I’ve Officially Had Enough Stuffing” Tuesday. Okay, that one I made up.
Speaking of making things up…is this Cyber Monday thing for real? Umm, yes. Well, I don’t know, do you think over $1 billion worth of sales in a single day (Cyber Monday, 2010) is for real?
Okay, so what does this have to do with you? Well, you may not know it, but if you’re running an online auction, you are [kind of] an online retailer too! The bottom line is that you are facilitating transactions online and isn’t that the most common denominator when you’re online shopping? In case you’re worried that “no one really shops this way,” I’ve got news. Well, it’s the National Retail Federation (still not a Battlestar Galactica reference) with the news, but still. The NRF estimates that 36% holiday shopping will take place online this year and YOU can get a piece of that action!
If you have the resources, running an auction during the holiday season can be incredibly exciting for your organization. You have the opportunity to shift your focus to your potential shopper. Between the Cyber Monday fever and holiday shopping in general trending online, chances are your supporters are going to find themselves online thinking about the perfect gift for someone special. How great would it be to not only find the [electronics, tickets, vacation package, artwork] that will make that someone smile, but to know that your purchase also helps support a great cause?
Don’t over think this. Go where the money is and run an auction around the holidays!