Dear LinkedIn,
You're breaking my heart. I loved you just the way you were - I miss your Applications. I miss your Events. And on January 31, I'm going to miss your Answers section. Why do you have to change? You were perfect just the way you were.
Your friend Facebook continues to change and update, but it's not what it used to be. Now, Facebook is focused on its investors instead of its users and it's not fun anymore.
Please bring back the Applications that allowed additional interactivity between LinkedIn users. Please bring back Events so people can connect with others in their industry. And please don't delete Answers - some questions should be asked to the masses, especially since it's inefficient to ask the same questions in multiple groups.
Please don't change. Myself and all of your users think you're pretty just the way you are.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Getting Donations for a Silent Auction is Easier Than You Think
I know it can be hard to ask people for anything. Help, donations, money, you name it. But it doesn't have to be difficult. When you're starting to recruit donations for a silent auction, it's all about making connections. First, connect with the other organizers - do they have any suggestions?
Second, connect with the vendors - they may be able to offer something that would be good for the bidding. I was planning a golf tournament associated with some client events we were hosting and our group used a hotel room block in the area. I called the sales manager at the hotel and asked if they would be able to donate anything that could be used for our silent auction in association with the golf tournament. She provided me with a gift certificate good for two nights at the hotel. See what you can get just by asking!
Third, make sure that you're connecting with people that understand and sympathize with your cause. I hosted a silent auction event where I knew that a manager with a large, well-known sunglasses company was going to be in attendance. I asked one of the other volunteers (who invited him) if they could reach out to him and see if his company would donate. Since that company gets requests all the time, they have an online process that we went through for the donation. We just had to make sure that we sent in the request 6-8 weeks before our event.
Lastly, taking to social media is a great way to get the word to the world about your event. Make sure that you post multiple times about needed silent auction items and ask influential Tweeters for a retweet.
No matter how you go about gathering items for your silent auction, make sure you have a process in place for where donations are to be sent, tracking the value of the item and distributing a tax receipt to whomever donates. If you're working with a 501(c)(3) organization, make sure you have access to the Federal Tax ID number.
Second, connect with the vendors - they may be able to offer something that would be good for the bidding. I was planning a golf tournament associated with some client events we were hosting and our group used a hotel room block in the area. I called the sales manager at the hotel and asked if they would be able to donate anything that could be used for our silent auction in association with the golf tournament. She provided me with a gift certificate good for two nights at the hotel. See what you can get just by asking!
Third, make sure that you're connecting with people that understand and sympathize with your cause. I hosted a silent auction event where I knew that a manager with a large, well-known sunglasses company was going to be in attendance. I asked one of the other volunteers (who invited him) if they could reach out to him and see if his company would donate. Since that company gets requests all the time, they have an online process that we went through for the donation. We just had to make sure that we sent in the request 6-8 weeks before our event.
Lastly, taking to social media is a great way to get the word to the world about your event. Make sure that you post multiple times about needed silent auction items and ask influential Tweeters for a retweet.
No matter how you go about gathering items for your silent auction, make sure you have a process in place for where donations are to be sent, tracking the value of the item and distributing a tax receipt to whomever donates. If you're working with a 501(c)(3) organization, make sure you have access to the Federal Tax ID number.
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