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How Guests Bid in a Silent Auction

This guide explains the steps to register and bid on both silent and live auctions on your platform, ensuring participants know how to navigate and engage with the auction process effectively.

Step 1: Register to Bid

  • Participants must register on your auction page to ensure a secure bidding environment. 
  • After registration, they gain access to all auction items, both silent and live via their personal Guest Experience Link. They receive this link via email and/or text when they purchase their ticket to the event or by following the directions below.
  • To register, click on the Register to Bid button in the top left corner of your Auction Page. 
  • If your auction is part of a ticketed event, they will be prompted to purchase a ticket before they can bid.

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  • You can allow non-ticketed bidders by going to Edit Auction (or Edit Event) > Tickets > ... > Auction registration options > toggle to Allow public bidders without a ticket purchase. This will then give registrants an option when they click Register to Bid.

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  • Once registered, the guests will be redirected to their personal guest experience page shown in the next step. 

Step 2: Browse Auction Items

  • Browse through listings categorized under silent and live auctions. Each item features detailed information, including current bid status or the starting bid price. 
  • It should look something like this:

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Step 3: Place a Bid

Silent Auctions:

  • Click on the item you'd like to bid on and click Bid. The next bidding amount will automatically populate. You can increase that amount if you would like. Then click Send Bid. 

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  • The auction can also allow setting a maximum bid for automatic incremental bidding, once you have entered your bid.

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  • You will receive a text message confirming your bid. 

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  • You will then receive outbid notifications via text that provide the next bidding increment and a link back to your bidding page.

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  • Bidders can bid until the silent auction closes. 

Step 4: Monitor Bids

  • Keep track of your bids by viewing your Guest Experience page and clicking on Browse Items > Items I Bid On. For silent auctions, the platform will notify you if you've been outbid. 

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  • If you are awarded an item, you will receive a text message letting you know that you've won the item and any Winning Bidder Communication assigned to that item.

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Live Auctions:

  • For in-person events, these items are typically left as View Only just to provide information to the event guests. For Hybrid or Virtual Events, guests can participate in real-time bidding through a lived-streamed event.

Need Additional Help?

We're here to assist you in any way we can. Don't hesitate to reach out to support@betterunite.com

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