Most artists set a starting bid that is close to what they hope to earn. That is the single most common pricing mistake on any auction platform, and it costs money in a way that is easy to miss.
A low starting bid does two things. It lowers the barrier for the first bid, and the first bid is what makes an auction look alive to everyone who sees it afterwards. An auction with four bids attracts more bidders than an identical auction with none.
Set the floor at your walk-away number
Your starting bid should be the lowest amount at which you would still be happy to do the work. Not your target. Your floor.
The autobuy gap
Autobuy should sit roughly three to five times your starting bid. Too close and people take it immediately, ending the bidding early and capping your earnings. Too far and it never gets used at all.