Web Site/App Beta Tests

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Introduction to Web Site Beta Tests

Web Site betas are aimed at companies wishing to test a browser-based portal or application. Test participants may be either consumers or business users depending on the site. Examples of great web site beta candidates are e-commerce sites, company support sites, complex web applications, or even marketing sites.

Unique Web Beta Test Attributes

  • Wide Range of Users - Worldwide users of varying social and cultural norms with unique perceptions of what constitutes a good web site.
  • Different Client Configurations - Web site betas generally utilize a wide range of different browsers, platforms, plug-ins, and connection speeds.
  • Minimal Communication - Websites are typically intended to be standalone. Ideally a beta participant should be able to navigate and utilize the site with minimal outside influence.
  • Large Participant Pools - Due to the number of people with varying demographics and varying client configurations, web site betas tend to have a larger number of participants.
  • User Experience - Web site and application betas are often heavily focused on determining the user's impression of and experience with the site itself.
  • Load Testing - Due to the server based nature of web based sites and applications, web betas often aim to determine highly realistic load scenarios.

Web Site Beta Challenges

  • Communicating Beta Tasks - During a web site beta it is often essential for participants to focus on specific areas of the site. This focus can be difficult to communicate due to the open nature of web sites.
  • Client Configuration - Web sites can perform differently based upon the browser, connection speed, and connection type. It is important to collect and consider these factors with feedback.
  • Engaging Participants - Users are difficult to engage in web-based projects due to the open nature of the Internet, where you are fighting for the participant's attention.
  • Customer Perception - Test participants have a tendency to blame the web software before they will look at their system, browser, or connection for the issues.
  • Security - Because of security, privacy, and virus concerns, test participants will be more hesitant to test unfinished web sites and applications.
  • Performance Testing - While it is often essential to determine performance factors during a beta period, it is very challenging to organize testing events to occur during specific time period in order to determine realistic load.

Centercode Has The Perfect Solutions for Web Site Beta Testing

How Centercode Connect™ Software Can Help

  • Test Platforms - Centercode Connect's test platform functionality can be used to collect and organize detailed information about the browsers, plug-ins, and operating systems beta participants are using to test. This is useful for both recruiting and managing feedback.
  • Direct Linking - Feedback pages such as bug report forms can be linked directly from the beta web site or application, allowing users to easily submit feedback.
  • Surveys - Connect allows surveys to be easily created and deployed to users. This makes it extremely easy to judge user perception of the web site or app throughout the beta.
  • Feedback Integration - Connect can be integrated directly with the site to capture information such as errors. This ensures that all automated error reports and user generated bug reports are in a single location.

How Centercode Managed Betas and Services Can Help

  • Profiled Test Participants - Our Managed Services team has a detailed process by which all participants are profiled prior to starting the beta test. This gives us the capability to ensure your participant pool includes a representative sample of common browsers, plug-ins, and connection speeds used to access your site.
  • Simulate Real Activities - Based on your individual objectives our beta team can create tasks for participants to perform. The tasks can range from having the participants execute an e-commerce purchase to finding answers to predetermined questions on the site. After every task a survey is conducted to measure the participants experience.
  • Coordinate Performance Tests - We can coordinate an event to test the performance of a site under a heavy load. These events require participants to utilize the website at a specified time and perform specific tasks.
  • Managing Large Groups of Participants - Our beta managers have experience managing large scale betas. Our best practices and tools allow us to manage more participants in less time than possible if managed in-house.

Centercode Web App Beta Test Customers (More Clients »)

  • EchoworxCommunications Security Software
  • HPConsumer & Business Products
  • YahooInternet Software & Services
  • GoogleInternet Software Solutions
Want to see Centercode Connect for yourself? Start by signing up for a 30-day free trial now.
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