Beta Process Overview

The following is intended to offer an overview of the basic aspects of the beta testing process. Note that while there are infinite ways to manage a beta test, the process listed here has proven effective for Centercode beta managers over the course of hundreds of beta tests.

Step 1: Project Planning

Before a beta test can begin, the objectives of the project must be defined. An average beta may have anywhere from just a few to upwards of twenty unique goals. Pre-defining these goals ensures that an appropriate group size and makeup of participants are selected, an appropriate amount of time is available, and all involved individuals understand what is intended to be accomplished.

Tip: A beta project should be treated like any other business project and therefore begin with a detailed written Project Plan. This plan should include an overview of the product in its current state, the target market of both the product and the beta tests, the individual goals of the project (broken down by phase if necessary), the team members involved and their responsibilities, and other basic parameters including a general project time line.

Step 2: Participant Recruitment

Beta testing begins with the selection of test candidates. Ideal candidates are those who match the intended market of the product, and who’s opinion will not be swayed by a prior relationship with the company. Most private beta tests include anywhere from 10 to 250 participants. This number is highly dependent on the complexity of the product, the audience involved, the time available for testing, and the individual goals you’re attempting to achieve.

Tip: Depending on the goals of a beta, existing customers often make great beta candidates. Employees on the other hand, generally do not (they're generally better candidates for Alpha).

Step 3: Product Distribution

Next, products are distributed to beta participants. The focus of a beta test is to understand the customer experience as though they purchased the product themselves. With this in mind, beta is most effective when a complete package including all appropriate materials (software, hardware, manuals) are sent to participants.

Tip: While downloads are a convenient way to offer beta software products, they don't provide the user with the entire “out of the box” experience (unless this is the intended distribution method of course). If time and budget allows, distributing initial beta products will generally produce greater results. Additional builds may easily be offered online.

Step 4: Collecting Feedback

Once your participants begin to use the beta product, feedback is quickly gathered. This feedback comes in many valuable forms including bug reports, general comments, quotes, suggestions, surveys, and testimonials. With good beta management and communication tools, an abundant amount of feedback is delivered from the test participants.

Tip: User feedback is the heart of beta testing, and often assumed to consist of nothing more than bug reports. This is a very limited view of beta testing, as it can provide countless types of user input based on whatever goals you're attempting to achieve. The key is building your beta and feedback mechanisms directly around the goals you're trying to accomplish.

Step 5: Evaluating Feedback

A beta test provides a wealth of data about your product and how your customer views it. However, that information is useless unless it is effectively evaluated and sorted into manageable forms. All feedback should be reviewed and organized based on the impact on the product, and the organization it impacts.

While bugs are often the core focus of a beta, other valuable data can also be derived from the test. Marketing and public relations material, customer support data, strategic sales information, and other information can all be collected from an effective beta test. Beta testing is a multi-faceted process that contributes to nearly every aspect of a product.

Tip: Many tests are performed using manual processes and rudimentary tools (often with nothing more than e-mail). This type of system makes managing large amounts of feedback extremely difficult, and often greatly devalues the beta process. In these cases, if groups beyond QA even have the opportunity to review the feedback, there's a high probability that it'll be so incoherent and unfocused that they'll have no idea what to do with it, and will likely ignore it.

Step 6: Beta Conclusion

When a beta test comes to a conclusion, it's important to provide closure to both the project and the beta participants. Closure involves providing feedback to the participants about their issue submissions, status of the product, and taking the time to thank and reward them for their effort.

Tip: While it is not always feasible, the most common (and beloved) way to motivate participants is to provide them with final versions of the tested products. If this is not possible, offering a warranty or support on their beta version is also effective.

Next Steps Resources