How has everyone handled beta testing agreements with enterprises in the past? Do you charge a small amount for the application or give it away for free? Do you give lifetime licenses or do they expire? Any successful or failed models?
Ask HN: How do you handle beta testing agreements with enterprise?
1–3 of 3 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you handle beta testing agreements with enterprise?
#2For the amount and quality of feedback we received, allowing the free beta test worked out great - I could not have paid a group of QA testers to provide as good feedback as I got from the beta test company;
In addition, most companies do not like to 'pay to test' a product.
In our situation, the company ended up purchasing our software and about 18 months later was acquired by Halliburton - Halliburton has its own software division and no longer needed us;
Re: Ask HN: How do you handle beta testing agreements with enterprise?
#3Additionally, consider what you want to get out of the Beta: If you simply want a name to use for marketing, then ensure that's in the agreement (obligation to support your marketing efforts). If you really want to get end-user feedback, either ask the company to put some skin in the game (money, committed to levels of use, etc...), and consider rewarding them in some capacity if they achieve your goals (x number of transactions, x number of users, y number of bugs, etc...). Rewards could be discounts on purchase when it exits Beta, participation on customer advisory boards, etc...