MobilBid: Auction Checklist

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Assuming you have created your first ORGANIZATION, and an AUCTION within that organization, the following are VERY IMPORTANT:

  1. From the right-side menu ("Account Settings"), connect an existing Stripe.com account, or set up a new Stripe.com account (can be done later, but the earlier the better)
  2. From the auction dashboard >> left-side menu >> Settings:
    1. Edit the Auction General Settings as needed, including which notifications to be sent, and whether you wish to have a credit card required prior to first bid (only appears when Stripe.com is connected)
    2. Edit the Invoice Configuration
    3. Edit the auction Automated Message Templates (you want your guests to know the messages are from your organization and not spam, and you'll want item pickup instructions)
    4. Edit the Message Settings (identify the email REPLY-TO address, and your name or organization name)
    5. Edit the Auction Controls - set up an Auto-Run schedule using the correct time-zone (HIGHLY recommended, as it displays a countdown timer on all patron screens, and is fairer when it cuts off bidding)
  3. Of course, don't forget to load in your items, and item photos!

If this is your FIRST auction - ignore this section:

  1. When creating your second or subsequent auctions, the best practice is to DUPLICATE your previous auction - it will make an exact copy of all the settings, configuration and items - making it very easy to get going.
  2. You can bulk delete all your old items, or delete only specific ones.
  3. Best practice is to ARCHIVE the old auction, so there is no confusion as to which is the one to be updated and run.
  4. Patrons from prior auctions are retained.  You can bulk delete them, or use them as the base to include for your next auction.  By default old patrons will not receive Preview or Running invites/notifications - but you can choose to have them included by editing the Notification options in the Auction Settings.  Be careful about sending custom broadcasts - sending to "all patrons" will include old participants - it's okay to send to "interested" patrons, as they are the ones that have actually logged in to the current auction.  If you do send old patrons the Preview or Running invite/notifications, best to update the wording in the relevant Message Templates so recipients know why they are getting the messages (e.g. "As a prior participant in the NYC Golf tournament, you have been sent this message to join this year's auction, you can unsubscribe at any time...") 

The following are OPTIONAL:

  1. From the auction dashboard >> left-side menu >> Settings:
    1. Set up Categories - group similar types of auction items together
    2. Edit the Landing Pages
  2. Edit the Sponsors - images and text for display on leaderboards (this may be not visible in your system, to simplify your menu options.)
  3. Edit the Leaderboards for big-screen display to patrons (this may be not visible in your system, to simplify your menu options.)
  4. Edit the Donations (this may be not visible in your system, to simplify your menu options.)
  5. Edit the Financial Configuration (generally not used unless you want to charge a "bidders premium" percentage on top of winning bids.)

If you've done the above, you're almost ready to go live:

  1. Fully test the auction (or a duplicate), including a $1 credit card submission to ensure Stripe.com is enabled correctly
  2. Promote the auction:
    1. Give out the local phone number listed on the dashboard to patrons for registration (recommended option)
    2. OR: distribute the URL via general email (alternate option, not as good as texting to the number.)  DO NOT PROMOTE BOTH METHODS, use one or the other - with the other as a backup for the small number of guests who may have a problem.
    3. OR: From the organizational-level right-side menu Contact Manager: upload any pre-registered patrons from a spreadsheet (first name, last name, cell-phone or email) (optional, this is not the best way to register guests, #a is preferred) 
  3. Understand how to view, download and print reports, paid invoices, unpaid invoices, etc.
  4. Have a laptop for administrative purposes, monitor dashboard, use at checkout, etc
  5. Have a (second) dedicated laptop to project leaderboards (optional - only needed at in-person events when you want to display to a big screen.)
  6. Understand how to send broadcasts, or pre-schedule broadcasts, to patrons during the middle of an auction (optional)
  7. Understand how to (all optional):
    1. Edit patrons, concept of a “trusted” patron
    2. Troubleshoot those who can't successfully login (generally they type a wrong number...)
    3. How to place bids or proxy bids on behalf of someone who does not have a phone, etc.
    4. Void unwanted bids (very rare)
    5. Deal with those that don't want to pay by credit card, how to split an invoice, how to resend invoices, etc.
  8. Enjoy yourself!

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