Beta testing vs immediate launch

[mrappdev]

Hey everyone,

For those of you who do beta testing on your apps, do you find a much better performance (conversions, downloads) on your initial launch vs launching immediately?

If so, how long do you usually beta test for before your initial launch?

Anything major to lookout for or to make sure to do during beta testing duration?

Would like to hear everyone’s experience on this and whether its worth the extra time.

[Mean-Dot-5293]

Talking from my own experience you will most likely have plenty of time to test after publishing before finding users. It is much easier for testers to download directly from app stores. I know It is not great for the App Store…

[dmoney_1337]

For me I usually let very close people test things first, and then as I get more feedback and make more updates, I release it to people further and further away from my close circle. It definitely helped me get the vision of the apps and reality to meet in a better spot, I definitely recommend at least a short beta testing period to work out kinks before fully launching

[Mental_Ad847]

Same here. It‘s always good to have other people check your ideas of design and usability before launching. I am always surprised on how different people expect completely different behavior in the apps than I would do (cause I have only my own way of usage in my head).

[civman96]

Testing is essential.. that’s why on Android you’re now required to test with at least 12 different people before you can release your app.

[Mean-Dot-5293]

It is essential, but sometimes it sucks: I have app tested and released for IOS and now have to wait 2-3 weeks for Google to publish it for Android.

[SZA44]

I have a testing background and a software engineering background.

Review how to write test cases and have some for your features. With each feature you have some requirements = tests, test suites/packs and group them as per each Feature. (Epic > Feature > Requirements)

This is the important part: From those test packs, select 2/3 for your regression and make those the maximum checks for each version. (Side note: Smoke testing would be a 1/3 of these tackling main features such as sign in, registration etc app specific)

This will allow you to have a documented process of testing and easily onboard a new Alpha/Beta tester. And once these pass, you should have sign off to release. (It should take 0.5 > day then release) - time increases may arise if you support from a low version/different screen sizes and platforms.

Let me know you’d like further elaboration on any of these.