The Importance of Knowing Your Audience

When you look through our fundraising packages, chances are you’ll see something you love. A golf outing in sunny Arizona? A trip to Bali? There’s truly a travel package for everyone at Philantopia!
However, the important thing is not what packages you like, it’s figuring out what your audience wants. Here’s why understanding your audience is crucial, and here’s how to do it.

Bidding Won’t Happen If Guests Aren’t Interested

You might think this is common knowledge, but too many people have made the mistake of choosing a fundraising package that doesn’t work for their audience. That aforementioned golfing trip won’t sell if no one in the room is an avid golfer.
Fortunately, you’re in luck with Philantopia — you only pay for fundraising packages if they sell. But we want your auction to be a wild bidding success! The higher a travel package sells for, the more money you get for your nonprofit. Picking a highly desirable trip is crucial for your event’s success.

Do Your Research

Knowing your donors is powerful. Conversing with them at events helps you understand their likes and dislikes. Granted, you don’t want to curate a package to one specific donor, but a trip that excites a number of guests is what to aim for.
Answering these questions is a good place to start:

• Are your guests more prone to travel overseas or stay within the country?
• Is there something your guests want to “escape?” For example, people in snowy places might pine for sunshine and vice versa.
• Do your guests share any common interests? Wine or culinary trips, sport fishing, and other activities are niche-specific — they can either sell like hotcakes or fall on deaf ears.
• Does a fundraising package tie in with your event theme? Check out our winter themes blog for some inspiration!

Presell An Auction Package

Here’s a secret that can lead to wild success for your benefit: test the waters and offer a presale.
You can scan the room even before your event begins through preselling. Pick a package you think guests might like and put the word out, “Would anyone have interest in the ______ package?”
If the answer is no (or if there’s no feedback), it’s probably not the right package for your auction. If people are interested, offer bidding ahead of the event. You could very well make hundreds or even a thousand weeks before the actual day!

Put Your Feelings Aside

We know what you’re thinking, easier said than done! But it is crucial to remember that just because you fall in love with a fundraising package does not mean that everyone else will. Even if the trip that sells the best is one you would never go on, it still sold!

Contact Philantopia

We have tons of fundraising packages and it can be difficult for people to pick the best one for their event. Get in touch with our team and we’ll happily lend a hand! We’ve helped nonprofits pick (and sell) the best auction packages since 2008, and would love to work with you. Contact us to get started.