Learn how to set up an in-person event in Auctria with mobile bidding, paper bid sheets, a live auction, or a mix.
You don't have to follow these steps in order
You can add items at any time, so feel free to set up your website and other settings first.
Step 1: Choose How Guests Will Bid
Decide how guests will bid on each item. You can use one method or combine them.
| Bidding Method | Best For | Item Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile bidding | Silent auctions where guests bid on their phones. Bidding closes automatically, so there are no bid sheets to collect. | Online |
| Paper bid sheets | Silent auctions where guests write bids on printed sheets. | Paper Bidding |
| Live auction | Featured items sold by an auctioneer in the room. | Live |
See Item Types for more about each item type.
Step 2: Add Your Items
Click Items → Add New Item, then set each item's Item Type to match the bidding method you chose. See Add New Items to Auctria.
Step 3: Add Admission Tickets (Optional)
Tickets help you track attendance, tables and seating, and meal choices.
- See Tickets to get started.
- See How To Sell Tickets to sell tickets.
- See Tables And Seating to set up tables.
- See An Event With Ticket Sales for an overview of selling tickets online.
Step 4: Create Your Event Website
Guests use your event website to bid on their phones, buy tickets, and donate.
- Click Event Website in the left sidebar.
- Find the Core template and click Use template.
- In the Create Website window, enter a Website Address. Use only letters, numbers, and hyphens.
See How To Create A New Event Website for more details.
Also review your Registration/Checkout settings so guests can register and check out on your website.
Step 5: Set Up Mobile Bidding
If you're using mobile bidding, set your default Online Bidding Times to match when bidding should be open during your event.
- On the Website Dashboard, click Online Bidding under Online Features.
- Enter the Online bidding start and Online bidding end times.
Online bidding needs both times
Online bidding isn't enabled until you set both the Online bidding start and Online bidding end times.
When the end time passes, mobile bidding closes automatically and winning participants receive an Item Won notification. See Online Bidding Times.
Prepare your venue and guests
- Check the cell signal and WiFi at your venue. See Connectivity.
- Tell guests how to bid, for example with signs or a QR code on each table. See How To Get A QR Code.
- Let guests bid by text, with no app or sign-in needed. Texting must be enabled for your event, and each guest's phone number must be on their participant record. See Text Bidding and Text Messages.
- Set up a kiosk for guests who'd rather not use their own phone. See Kiosk Mode Bidding Setup.
Step 6: Prepare Paper and Live Bidding
Skip this step if you're only using mobile bidding.
Paper bid sheets: Print Bid Sheets for your Paper Bidding items. See Bid Sheets. To show your closing time on the sheets, add it in the Other section of each item's Item Details.
Live auction: Plan your live auction order and have someone ready to record the winning bids. See Live Bidding Type.
When bidding ends, record the final bid for each Paper and Live item on the Bidding Dashboard. This closes bidding for those items.
Want guests to bid before the event?
You can open bidding online before your event starts. See How To Set Up Online Pre-Bidding.
Next Steps
- Accept credit card payments: See Introduction To Credit Cards.
- Customize your website: See Introduction to Website Editor.
- Plan your event day: See In-Person Events.
- Check out guests quickly: See Batch Checkout.
- Track progress during your event: See Default Dashboard.