The Quality Standards of EXPLORINGNOTBORING

by EXPLORINGNOTBORING | Jul 31, 2022 | Basics, Partner Resources, Terms

Let’s connect you with a community of locals and travelers interested in learning more about your world. Are you in?

LEARN MORE:

Don’t Keep Your Super Skill a Secret!

exploringnotboring.com is a safe space for unique, original, and surprising ideas. We appreciate the unconventional, encourage creativity, and seek out the new & unusual.

No matter what self-doubt or imposter syndrome creeps in, your passion and ideas are valid and worth it. Don’t let anything or anyone hold you back from sharing your uniqueness with the world & driving your mission home.

This community is for the conscious progressives who want to pave their own path. We’re the hippie rebels challenging the status quo to shake up the day-to-day with surprising possibilities.

We appreciate the old days of small-town hospitality and the new ways of thinking outside the box. So, we seek out meaningful connections and new experiences that open the door to new possibilities & horizons.

That’s why we value: respect, goodwill, and creativity.

We’re Looking for Like-Hearted People ❤️

exploringnotboring.com has all the fun things to do and the creators who handcrafted them meet important criteria to partner with us.

As a Partner, this criteria helps you showcase your unique value and provide an exceptional customer experience. All good things to grow your passion! 🚀

We support original ideas from respectful, professional, creative and compassionate people who care about themselves, others, and planet Earth. These are the extraordinary humans we align with on exploringnotboring.com

The Quality Standards of exploringnotboring.com

First things first, these Quality Standards are in addition to our Terms of Service and Community Standards, which apply to everyone. Our Partners must also meet our Partner Terms and the following standards and requirements.

P.S. Our Quality Standards aren’t hard.

If you’re a knowledgable local creator with an original idea and you’re passionate about what you do & sharing it with others, the rest is pretty easy and most likely comes natural to you.

Below, we’ve outlined what it means to be “unique” and “enriching” so all the cool stuff you find on exploringnotboring.com is set apart from the boring stuff that’s easy to find elsewhere.

Boring is generic, commercialized, mundane. We all deserve better!

exploringnotboring.com is the only farmers-market-style online store to discover fun things to do in your neighborhood & beyond.

Connecting with local experts is the cherry on top of a giant sundae of new skills, new knowledge, new achievements, and new horizons!

As a Partner, you can post as many Activities, Events or Products as you can manage. Each one will pass through our approval team who measures it against the Quality Standards below and looks for opportunities to provide you insight to grow your passion with effective digital marketing.

Once approved, every Listing must continue upholding these standards to be eligible to sell on exploringnotboring.com

If any Activity, Event, or Product does not meet these requirements at any time, the Listing and associated account may be restricted, suspended, or permanently removed from the platform foreverrrrrrrr 😭 But seriously.

I'm watching you, Wazowski. — **Source:** Disney Pixar

As you read through the standards outlined below, think about the original idea you want to offer:

○ Do you have expertise in the subject matter, and bring a unique perspective?

This becomes your unique value proposition.

○ Do you provide something that other people can’t easily do or make on their own?

This differentiates your offering from generic crap, so let your imagination run wild.

○ How will you make sure to provide an exceptional customer experience?

The best experiences create meaningful human connections and loyal fans.

Table of Contents

LISTING REQUIREMENTS

In order to be published, your submission must be an original idea that demonstrates expertise, provides insider access, and encourages connection. It must be listed by an individual, not a business.

Your profile photo must be a clear picture of you, not a company logo.
Your profile name must be your personal name, not a business name.

Learn more about the mission behind exploringnotboring.com ✨

Your listing must also be clear, complete, and accurate. It must meet our photo quality standards and all applicable policies and requirements outlined below.

Expertise

Activities, Events, and Products on exploringnotboring.com offer an opportunity to all of us Seekers to support a local expert in their craft.

When defining your expertise, ask yourself these 5 questions to go deeper than the surface:

Why am I passionate about my craft, cause, community or culture?
How will I bring my passion to life in the customer experience that I provide?
Why am I the perfect person to provide this particular offering?
What unique experience, credentials, personal stories, and perspective do I have on this subject matter?
What is the unique twist or angle that I provide on this topic?

The way you communicate these qualities to people matters. Carefully highlight your unique expertise to help convey your value proposition in the following sections:

Your Story – Share your unique story. How did you get started? How did you gain your expertise? Why are you passionate about what you offer? Why is it unique?
Qualifications / Certifications / Permits – Keep it clear-cut and dry
Highlights – You might want to highlight your expertise here (e.g. “Learn from a Hollywood animator” or “Learn from over 35 years of experience”)

Insider Access

Activities, Events, and Products that go beyond the ordinary unlock experiences that the average resident or traveler wouldn’t likely discover or do on their own.

For instance, Activities might provide insider access to a local food spot, watering hole, or a hidden neighborhood garden. Events might unlock access to a secret venue or original spectacle. Products might be a one-of-a-kind or specially made.

Whatever makes your offering unique is up to you, just keep in mind that nothing offered on exploringnotboring.com is a typical tourist activity or ordinary product. We go to great lengths to find creators with unique ideas who want to open the door for others to experience their craft, cause, community or culture!

Here are 5 questions to help you define how you provide access to something unique:

What places, things to do, or opportunities do I unlock for others?
What is special about them?
Why are they special to me, what is my connection?
Why would others find them interesting?
How are they inaccessible to the average person?

In the following sections of your listing, clearly communicate and highlight what makes your offer uniquely valuable and why people should care to try it:

Title – This might be a good spot to tease your insider access (e.g. “Unbeaten Hike to Secret Waterfall” or “The Best Local Spots Foodie Tour”)
Description – Describe the unique access to places, things to do, or opportunities that your offering provides—be specific! And be descriptive. Tell a story!

Connection

Our Partners are special, they go out of their way to make people feel welcomed, included, recognized, safe, engaged, and connected.

These funky, spunky, go-getters are warm, thoughtful, caring people who look for opportunities to exceed expectations. There’s no ands, ifs, or butts 😜 about it, our Partners are the magic behind exploringnotboring.com

By teaming up with local experts, we’re opening the door to conversations and opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and see new places, while encouraging a better relationship with ourselves, others, and the environment.

It’s important to highlight in your listing the ways your offering is inclusive & engaging, how it facilitates connection, and how you ensure everyone feels safe & included.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

How does what I offer facilitate connection with others?
If I provide an activity or event, how will I help everyone connect and interact with each other throughout it?
How are needs like dietary considerations, accessibility, or safety concerns taken care of?
What might I do if there are unforeseen circumstances, like a change in weather?
How will I take into account the comfort levels of a wide spectrum of participants from many different cultures or backgrounds?

In the following sections, carefully and clearly communicate how you ensure everyone feels safe, engaged, connected, and comfortable:

What’s Included? – List anything special that you provide, from drinks & snacks, to gear or tools. The more all-inclusive, the less friction, the better.
What to Bring? and Additional Instructions – These are great spots to identify and anticipate people’s needs and wants. Include materials that will make them comfortable and add thoughtful information to your Additional Instructions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS

exploringnotboring.com is a boutique for unique. We designed it to support the utmost creative ideas. Of course, we have to draw the line somewhere for safety and values. Below outlines where we draw the line:

Weapons

We only allow the use of projectile weapons when the creator of the Experience has a valid license and insurance. Experiences involving firearms must have a minimum age limit of 18 years.

Sexually Suggestive Activities

Experiences that include sexual content or nudity must have a minimum age limit of 18 years, must disclose the presence of nudity, and must take place in a public place (not a private residence). The listing must also provide behavior requirements for all participants during the Experience, and specify how they can opt out of the activity if they feel uncomfortable. Sexually explicit content is not permitted on the platform.

Political Activities

We don’t allow Experiences that include direct political actions, like campaigning and fundraising, or activities that violate local laws. Political activities that are informational and educational in nature are permitted.

Special Categories

Certain categories of Experiences have additional standards:

LISTING PAGE REQUIREMENTS

Your listing must be clear, complete, and accurate. Seekers must know exactly what to expect and receive all the necessary details for a smooth experience, including:

What they will be doing (i.e. clear, pre-defined itinerary)
Where and how y’all will meet up (i.e. specific address & instructions)
What’s included in the price (i.e. what is provided with their purchase)
What they need to bring (e.g. extra cash to buy food that’s not included)
Any requirements they must meet (e.g. age limit, specializations)

Photo Quality Standards

You don’t have to be new to the digital space to understand the importance of high-quality photos to represent what you’re encouraging people to buy from you.

For everybody’s benefit, photos must meet our photo quality standards. These requirements are put in place as a way to gently nudge you into better marketing practices. Learn the best image size for high-quality online photos.

OPERATING STANDARDS

It goes without saying that the following standards are common sense. If you want to grow your passion, you have to provide a quality customer experience, every time.

Never Switch-N-Bait

For Activities and Events, attendees should always know exactly who will be leading the Experience. If a friend, partner, or a team is helping you provide your Experience, include that information in your Description and Additional Instructions sections of your listing. Never hand Seekers off to a third-party supplier or leave them on their on. Our Partners must personally lead Seekers throughout the entirety of the Experience.

For Products, customers should always receive the item that matches your photos and Description. When the Product is a handmade item that might differ slightly from the photos, be sure to communicate that in your Description.

Be Weary of Setting a Minimum Group Size

Every individual should feel welcome in the EXPLORINGNOTBORING community, whether they are exploring on their own or with a group. Although you have the power to set a minimum group size for Activities or Events, it doesn’t mean you should. The functionality is there to help you provide the best Experience and exchange your valuable time in a meaningful way. Sometimes the most valuable exchange of your time is when you end up with lasting friendships not bookoo bucks. Consider keeping your Experience open to whatever group size the universe brings your way.

Follow Health & Safety Guidelines

Our Partners must abide by the health and safety guidelines in affect when providing in-person Experiences. Learn more about these requirements.

Honor All Sales

Activity and Event Partners must honor their reservations, unless there is a need to cancel due to a valid extenuating circumstance, safety concerns, or dangerous weather conditions. Product Partners must honor their orders unless there is a need to cancel due to a valid extenuating circumstance or safety concerns.

Learn more about our Cancellation policy.

Maintain a High Overall Rating

It’s the 21st century, people like to know they’re investing their hard-earned money into something of value. As consumers, we want to know that we can expect a certain level of quality. We need social proof that says, “Yes, it’s safe to buy from them.”

All Activities, Events, and Products on exploringnotboring.com must maintain a high overall rating and avoid too many low review ratings (1-3 stars) from Seekers. If you receive too many low ratings or reported issues, your Listings may be suspended or permanently removed from the Platform 😭

WHAT WE DO NOT ALLOW

To protect our Partners, our Seekers, ourselves, and our vision, we simply cannot tolerate the mistreatment of animals, intellectual property violations, violations of local laws or restrictions, inappropriate content and discrimination, or payments exchanged outside of exploringnotboring.com. Violators will have their listing and associated account permanently removed and banned from exploringnotboring.com

Mistreatment of Animals

Our animal welfare guidelines and requirements apply to Experiences involving animals in the wild and in captivity, as well as domesticated animals under human care. Violations include direct interactions with wild animals (e.g. riding, petting, feeding), the purchase or consumption of wild animal products, and certain other activities.

Intellectual Property Violations

We do not permit the use of copyrighted work such as music, videos, photography, or literature unless the work was created or properly licensed by you, or is in the public domain. We also prohibit the unauthorized use of other types of intellectual property such as trademarks (e.g. brand names) or individual names (e.g. celebrities) that suggest an endorsement of, or affiliation with, a Partner, Product or Experience.

Violation of Local Laws or Restrictions

Each Partner is responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and other requirements that apply to their offering.

A good rule of thumb: if it involves food or drinks, or high-risk activities, seek expert advice to ensure you comply with all necessary regulations.

Inappropriate Content and Discrimination

Listings must follow all requirements outlined in our Content Policy and Nondiscrimination Policy.

Offsite Payments

Partners must not solicit an online or offline payment from outside exploringnotboring.com to avoid violating our offsite payment policy put in place to protect everyone involved in the exchange.