Beta testing is a phase of software development that occurs after internal (or alpha) testing. External people use a pre-release version of the software to help iron out bugs. Beta testing is a critical phase for the new software product.
What's On This Page
- There are some objectives to the beta testing:
Ironing out bugs
Understanding the product from the customers point of view (what is important)
Building a strong community for your product that can be used for testimonial
- Get them committed – have them find you via a web page so you know they are interested and are early adopters.
- Get the beta testers to believe they are a part of your development team. By feeling like they have a large part of the direction of the product, they will be better beta testers for you. Many early adopters and innovators feel this is the best reward.
- Stay in constant contact with them.
- Get them talking to each other, maybe through a Web bulletin board.
- Give them incentive to be your beta tester (free software, for example). This needs to be done carefully to ensure that the testers are not just in it for the gift.
©1997, 1998, 1999 Michele Determan