Five Tips for Selling at Live Auctions

Ah, the old-fashioned country auction! The idea of a country auction conjures up certain images for people. The image of a fast-talking auctioneer offering up an antique table or chair is a popular example.

People who are buying household goods or collectibles are looking to get their items at the lowest price possible. However, the people who are selling their items at auction are hoping for the highest price!

Unless a person is in the business of buying and selling antiques or other items, not a lot of thought goes into how goods are prepared for sale via the auction process. However, if you are one of the growing number of people using auction venues to sell your collectibles or other inventory, there are a few things to learn first about how to sell at auction before you bring a truckload of stuff over to the next event.

Tip 1: Make sure the things you want to sell are a good “fit” for the auction house you’ll be using.

Never bring a load to an auction house without actually having been to one of the previous auctions. It’s important to get a feel for the type of goods that the house sells. For example, at one very rural country auction it was common for the owners to sell live chickens, pots and pans, car parts, and farm equipment.

After close investigation, this would not be the right venue for selling your daughter’s “Hello Kitty” collection. On the other hand, the spare John Deere parts that you bought at last week’s yard sale might be just the right thing for the buying crowd at this auction.

Tip 2: Be sure you clearly understand the terms and policies of the auction house.

Visit with the auctioneer ahead of time. Call to find out what the best days and times are to visit. One of the worst possible times to drop in for an informational visit with an auctioneer is the day of the auction. Call ahead and ask. While you’re at it, find out what are the best days and times to drop your stuff off.

Once you have a little time with the auctioneer, you’ll be able to find out what type of commission he or she takes from consigners (which is you), and what type of paperwork might be needed. Some auction houses send out Form 1099 tax forms at the end of the year. An auctioneer may need to see your identification and have you fill out a W-9. Be prepared.

Find out what happens to your items if they don’t sell. For example, some auctioneers may have a minimum starting bid. If, for some reason, one of your items does not sell, it may be grouped with another one of your pieces. Know the auctioneer’s strategy beforehand so that you aren’t surprised on pay day.

Tip 3: Make sure the auctioneer knows what you’re selling.

It might be perfectly obvious to you that the signed print you are consigning is a rare and valuable piece of art. However, the auctioneer may not know this particular artist. Make a note of anything particularly special about your items, and leave the note with the piece. Be sure to tell the auctioneer about it as well. He or she might determine that this is something to highlight on the company website or in the newspaper listing.

Tip 4: Present your items neatly.

No one likes to have to dig through a box full of grimy and greasy car parts to see what treasures might be in there. Separate the parts and lay them out on a flat, or use more than one box to de-clutter the lot.

There is no need to buy fancy display boxes. It’s easy enough to go to the local convenience store or supermarket and ask if you can have the emptied boxes or flats that they are discarding.

While it’s good to present clean items, take care not to ruin the value of anything by over cleaning. For example, if you find some old cast iron cookware, clean the obvious dirt and grime, but don’t scrub it to its original finish. For many people, this ruins the value of the item. So, clean and tidy and organized is the key here.

Tip 5: Don’t complain to the auctioneer if your stuff doesn’t sell for as much as you’d like.

The phrase to remember here is, “You win some; you lose some.” That’s just the way it is. There are some days where an auction house is loaded with people who all seem to want what you’re selling. There will be other days where the crowd is sparse, and the bidding is simply not competitive.

Remember that it’s in the auctioneer’s best interest to sell your things for the highest possible hammer price. But sometimes, it’s just not going to be a stellar sale. The auctioneer is only human, and is also disappointed if a sale doesn’t go as well as planned.

If you notice that every time you bring a bunch of goods to sell that you’re not realizing as much as you think you honestly should, try another auction venue and compare apples to apples. That is, bring the same types of items to the new auctioneer and compare the results.

Unless the auctioneer is particularly disagreeable or inconsiderate to you or buyers, there is no reason to confront him or her about a sale. If you find you just don’t care for an auctioneer’s style or methods, find another one. Believe me, there are plenty of them out there!

The primary thing to remember as you learn how to sell at auction is that the business is unpredictable at best. You will have good days, some not-so-good days, some great days. The more you sell, the more experience you will gain, and the more enjoyable the business will be.

Choosing the Mobile Advertising Network That’s Right for You

As we move further and further into the 21st century, we find that mobile devices are getting smarter and more useful to users. Take the case of mobile advertising networks that work as a system to deliver solutions so that it optimizes a company’s advertising strategies, besides also tracking analytics and maintain a web of applications that deliver quality results across a spectrum of platforms including video and the Internet. This advertising mode first made its appearance with the coming of the iPhone, which has proved to be the star of the advertising.

The mobile advertising network is poised to excel along with the widespread usage of smartphones. These days, this form of advertising can be studied under three kinds of categories:

• Blind networks: As far as advertisers, publishers and impressions go, this form of advertising is considered the largest and generally works on the basis of CPC. These mobile advertising networks have options to target specific content channels but do not allow advertisers to opt for specific websites. The advertising networks that fall under this category are BuzzCity, Adfonic, AdMob, Madvertise, Admoda or Adultmoda and Mojiva.

• Premium blind networks: This form of advertising networks is generally mid-sized and gives newspapers, operator portals and broadcasters a higher premium. So, it’s not surprising that they bring in a higher percentage of brand advertising on the basis of CPM. In this category, you can choose either semi-blind or blind targeting with options to search and display advertisements or go in for particular spots on sites that you choose. These include Hunt Mobile Ads, Madhouse, Millennial Media, xAd, Greystripe and Jumptap.

• Premium networks: These mobile advertising networks are popular with big brand advertisers willing to pay top prices to get prime locations on premium networks with a CPM pricing model. They usually offer superior direct sales and support and a multitude of targeting options. Well-known in this category are Mobile Theory, YOC Group, Hands, NAVTEQ Media Solutions, Microsoft Mobile Advertising and Advertising.com or AOL.

In order to choose a good network for your business model, do the following:

Check that your network has an extensive reach, locally: Is your advertising network able to connect with local business advertisers? In fact, your network should be serving about 60%-70% of local mobile search applications.

Does your network specialize in localized content? If yes, your network will serve ads directly to his local customers. Your ads should be reaching people according to their ZIP codes as far locally as possible, rather than at city level so that they are relevant in a given context and locally too.

Does your network offer Search and Display Advertising? You’re sure to get SMS and display ads on your advertising network, but what about Search and Display advertising? Ideally, your mobile advertising network should offer you both.

Where to Get a Small Business Loan? Learn About Your Options and How to Choose a Good Organization

When they are first starting out, small businesses usually require loans to help them get going. Depending on your type of business and industry, you might need funding for inventory, strengthening your firm’s foundation, advertising, expansion, etc. “Where to get a small business loan?” is a very common question by owners of start-ups. Your choice of a lender could either help you in your success or cause damage to your business, so it’s important that you choose wisely.According to estimates, over 60% of small employer businesses have some sort of debt they are dealing with. If you choose the wrong lender, you could end up in an even worse situation. While many entrepreneurs and start-ups are turning to crowdfunding sources, this approach often requires a great deal of hard work, and most campaigns fail to reach their goal. There are also “Venture Capital” and “Angel Funding” solutions, but these types of alternative funding only play a small role in overall business financing.For many businesses, it’s still better to go the traditional route and apply for a small business loan. How do you know which lender to trust? How do you know where to get a small business loan from a reputable organization? A free quote is always a good place to start. You’ll definitely want to check with the Better Business Bureau as well. Only consider lenders that have at least a 3-star rating. Any complaints submitted concerning that particular firm should have been resolved.Where to Get a Small Business Loan That Won’t Scam YouReputation is also another important factor. Has a company you are interested in appeared in major financial publications, websites, or even television programs? Forbes Magazine, CNN Money, Business Insider, and INC 500 are always a plus.If you are in need of a particular type of service, there should be an ideal financial solution for you. For instance, some small businesses require a Working Capital Loan, some require financing for equipment, and others need assistance with vendor programs. There are also businesses that require real estate loans. Whatever your need capital for a start-up or need assistance expanding your small business, there should be a solution tailored just for your needs.Not only should you be able to obtain a free quote, the application process itself should be simple and straightforward. You’ll be required to provide some financial statements and personal background information, which will vary depending on the lender and what kind of small business loan you are interested in.As to the question ” Where to get a small business loan? ” It’s a good idea to start with US Business Funding. It has an A+ rating at the BBB and has appeared in the aforementioned publications. You can get a free quote if you apply today.