Volume II
The Power of a Story How, When, and Where to Share Them
to go to college, share the story of a graduate who couldn’t have made it there without that scholarship. Personal accounts from people you’ve helped can make potential donors sympathize or maybe even empathize with your cause. Of course, many organizations already do this. Sharing stories isn’t a new concept for encouraging people to donate. That being said, the question of where you share those stories is almost as important as the stories themselves. Where are your potential donors spending their time? What social media platforms do they use most often? If you can find that out, use those sites to share your heartfelt stories. For some of you, though, maybe your goal isn’t just spreading a greater, general awareness of your brand. Maybe you’re trying to reach out to a specific group and be strategic about the growth of your donor base. If that’s the case, your first step might be finding out who exactly your potential donors are, what they do, and where they live, etc. These are important questions to ask, and I know many organizations are already asking them. But what you should know is that we at Baker Auction Co. can personally attest to the power of an incredible story. We have a knack for sharing stories that show the positive things you accomplish, and it’s a big part of what we do when we get on stage. We have the privilege of conveying the important work that your organization performs with your regular donors and with those who may soon become regular donors, getting them invested. Through all the laughter, cheering, and crying of audience members at one of our auctions, I can tell you honestly that sharing those stories can get your organization money to make similar success stories happen again for others.
Warhawk Musuem Auction in Nampa, ID
There are a lot of people out there who are willing to give to those in need, but many of them don’t. Why? Because they don’t know where or how to donate their time and money. So with this in mind, there are three questions we should try to answer. First, how do we make the people who are willing to give aware of our cause? Second, where are the best places to reach these people? Third, who are the people that will be most impacted by the stories made possible by your organization’s work? I think the answers to these questions start with sharing stories. Real stories connect people to one another. Sharing stories of the people you support will help potential donors see the good your organization ultimately does. If your organization helps pay for treatment options for women with breast cancer, share a story of a recipient whose cancer has gone into remission. If you have a nonprofit that helps raise scholarship money for students trying
- Tyson Baker “It’s Sale Time”
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Reignite Your Passion Lessons in Innovation From Henry Ford
I think most people can agree that loyalty is a good thing. When it comes to doing what’s best for your charity or nonprofit, loyalty can become your Achilles’ heel. I know that sounds counterintuitive, so let me explain. Say you’ve been using the same auctioneer at your annual benefit event every year for the past 10, 15, or even 20 years. You know them well, and they might even do a pretty good job at hosting your event. But what if your benefit auctions could bring in so much more? What if you could get more donors through the door and raise more money for your cause? What if your favorite auctioneer is holding you back? We’ve seen it time and time again with so many of the organizations we’ve met and worked with. They want to go bigger and better with their auctions. They want to bring in those funds that can help the families and individuals who really need it. They just can’t seem to square with the idea of giving up the auctioneer they know will at least get the job done. They don’t want to seem disloyal to someone they’ve worked with for years. Loyalty or Fear of Change? How Loyalty Can Be Your Achilles’ Heel
As organizations scale, there is a lot to focus on: hiring the right staff, creating the most effective fundraising strategies, and setting up efficient operations. With so much to do, it’s easy to lose sight of your initial vision for your organization. If you’re stuck in a rut, know that you’re not alone. Plenty of the most successful operations have endured the same struggles and, with a little ambition and a lot of creativity, came out on top. Take Henry Ford, for example. Henry Ford made the automobile accessible and appealing for the common citizen. This ignited interest in the market from consumers and manufacturers alike, which led to innovations like air conditioning and other appliances we can’t imagine living without today. There were some key factors that played into his success, and, if you apply them to your own journey, you could gain a new perspective and be inspired to create and innovate in your industry. Consumer-Focused Ford realized cars were unreliable and unaffordable to most and set out to change that. After developing the first moving assembly line, Ford lowered the price of cars and made them accessible for people outside the upper class for the first time. As long as you keep the consumer and their needs in mind, you’ll find ways to make their experience better and increase your success. Small Changes, Big Impact Unlike many organizations today that sacrifice quality for quantity, Ford found ways to focus on both. He looked at how cars were actually made and found that, if he could build more cars within a certain time frame, he could pay less per car, per worker. Thus, the moving assembly line was born. When looking for ways to innovate in your industry, rethinking even the smallest, simplest details can make a huge difference for your business. You may not be able to reinvent the wheel, but who said you couldn’t reinvent the brake pads? Henry Ford may have changed the automobile industry forever, but you don’t have to go to such lengths to innovate in your own. The next time you find yourself uninspired or stagnant, look to those who made your industry what it is today. You might just find the inspiration you’ve been searching for.
I understand that line of thought. Here, at Baker Auction Co., we’re all about getting as much support for your organization or your cause as
Your Donors Won’t Bid If They Can’t See or Hear What’s Happening
At Baker Auction Co., a large part of our success is due to the energy we’re able to generate in a crowd. That said, a small but crucial piece of engaging an audience is something few of our clients consider: audiovisual enhancements. At the end of the day, if your donors can’t hear or see what’s going on, they’re not going to give to your cause. That’s why a good sound system and clear visual aids are key parts of any successful auction. I’ve worked with a lot of clients who will show us this big, beautiful venue and then do a soundcheck while it’s completely empty. The only problem is that when the venue is full of people, the sound is going to work a lot differently. Just recently, we did an event for an organization out of town. As we were on our way to check out the venue, I called and asked them to spring for extra sound. They said they would work on it, but can you guess what they didn’t do? Now, I’m pretty loud, but without proper sound equipment, that only gets me so far. The audience could barely hear me over their drinking and socializing, let alone over any laughing and cheering that happened.
If you want to host an incredible auction, always budget for enhanced sound. And if your donors still can’t hear you, that’s where the visual aids
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It’s Sale Time!
11/1 HouseCheck Foundation Gala (Meridian, ID) 11/2 TVCC Gala (Ontario, OR) 11/14 Helping High Auction (Boise, ID) 11/15 Big Brothers Big Sisters (Bend, OR) 11/16 Ambrose School Gala (Boise, ID) 11/22–23 Festival of Giving (Twin Falls, ID) 12/6 Boys and Girls Club (Bend, OR)
Rays for Rare Charity Auction in Boise, ID
*partial listing of events
humanly possible by adding extra value to every event we host. We may not be your regular, dependable auctioneer, but our team will knock your benefit event right out of the park. With that in mind, ask yourself these questions: Do I think my charity auction can be better? Is the loyalty I feel for my current auctioneer really just a fear of change? We encourage you to visit our Facebook page to review some testimonials of previous clients, and then give us a call to schedule an event analysis and consultation. come in handy. A PowerPoint presentation should be a part of every event — period. That way, if the audience can’t hear what’s happening, they can at least look up front to see which items are for sale or who’s talking. In addition to the sound and visuals, you should also always have physical programs for audience members to hold with them throughout the auction. What it comes down to is this: We want to make sure all of your audience members can be a part of the excitement, whether they follow along best through audio, visual, or tactile cues — we want you to help us create an environment where that excitement can happen. If you’re ready to host the best auction you’ve ever had, call (208) 739-8750 today!
BOOK FOR 2020 NOW! Dates are going quickly!
Take a break
AUCTION DONORS HELPING
BIG SISTERS FOUNDATION HOPE
CLUB GALA SALE TIME
A touching moment between bidders at a recent gala
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THE POWER OF A STORY
HOWHENRY FORD INNOVATED HIS INDUSTRY HOW LOYALTY CAN BE YOUR ACHILLES’ HEEL AUDIOVISUAL PRESENTATION IS CRUCIAL!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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EXECUTION IS GREATER THAN STRATEGY
Execute Strategy and Kill Stagnancy 3 Tips for Every Business Leader “To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed ... Execution is worth millions.”
can be too energetic about execution. Make sure everyone involved in a plan knows their responsibilities. Confusion will torpedo any strategy faster than you can say, “Who was in charge of this?” The Harvard Business Review states, “Having the discipline to organize people, assemble resources, and then generate a plan that others can commit to will collectively improve execution.” We’re not saying you should micromanage your team, but you do need to be checking in on a regular basis to evaluate progress on your plan. Schedule monthly or quarterly meetings to go over the strategy. This is where you look for any changes that need to be made and refine the strategy. A smart strategy feels reassuring, but learning to execute a plan is the only way to make progress. The best business plan in the world is worthless if you never follow through. 3. Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate
–Steve Jobs
Anyone can take this advice to heart, whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Ideas are easy, but no one becomes successful because they had a great idea. Success comes from putting that idea into action. Being able to execute a plan is a skill every business leader needs. Here are three steps to help you improve your execution. Putting off action in favor of creating the perfect plan or strategy leads to stagnant business. Successful people know that plans take many shapes before they reach their final form. Don’t jump into something without a clear plan, but don’t be afraid to define your strategy as you go. 1. Ditch Perfection
2. Be Methodical
While you shouldn’t wait for the perfect plan, you shouldn’t be flying in blind, either. You
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