CauseVox auctions are built to give you wide flexibility in how you run your event whether it’s online-only, in-person, or a hybrid experience. You can customize how and when participants register, view items, and place bids.
This article walks through the technical setup for auction registration and bidding, plus includes a quick cheat sheet of common registration use cases.
Auction Registration Use Cases
1. Online Auction with Open Bidding
If your auction is primarily online and you want participants to start bidding right away, simply launch the auction site with bidding enabled. As soon as someone clicks on an item, they’ll be prompted to log in or create a Portal account on the auction form. From there, registration and bidding happen in one smooth flow—no extra steps required.
Example: A nonprofit hosts a weeklong virtual auction where supporters across the country can browse items and place bids immediately after the campaign launches.
2. Live or Silent Auction without Early Bidding
Sometimes you want to showcase items in advance but keep actual bidding closed until your live event or a specific start time. This keeps the excitement building while still allowing guests to preview what’s available.
You have two options to control when bidding opens:
Option 1: Disable bidding. Remove the “Place Bid” button so visitors can view items but can’t bid until you’re ready.
Option 2: Schedule a bidding start date/time. Choose a specific future moment when bidding automatically opens, ensuring a fair start for all participants.
Example: A school runs a silent auction as part of its annual gala. Parents can browse items online before the event, but bidding only begins once the gala officially kicks off.
Learn how to disable bidding or schedule a future start date.
3. In-Person Auction with Pre-Registration
For in-person or hybrid auctions, bidder pre-registration makes check-in fast and hassle-free. When In-Person Auctions are enabled, participants can log into their CauseVox Portal and click “Register for Auction.” This creates their bidder account automatically.
Admins can also manually add bidders in the Manage tab for walk-ins or those who need assistance. Once registered, bidders are ready to participate in your in-person auction—and if you’ve enabled online bidding, they can also log in through the auction form to bid digitally.
Example: A nonprofit hosts a live art auction at their fundraising gala. Guests are asked to pre-register through their Portal account before arriving. When they check in at the door, they’re already in the system with bid numbers, saved payment method, and can raise their paddle or place online bids right away.
Learn how to set up in-person auction with pre-registration.