Successfully managing your Google Play testers is essential to meeting Google’s closed testing requirements. With the new 12 testers requirement, it’s crucial to track and manage your testers efficiently to ensure a smooth testing process and meet Google’s standards. In this guide, we’ll show you the best ways to track and manage your testers, ensuring you fulfill the 12 testers requirement and avoid any issues when releasing your app on the Google Play Store.
Additionally, we’ll explain how 20apptester.com can help you manage your testers and ensure you meet the testing requirements without any hassle.
Why Tracking Your Testers Is Important
Tracking and managing your testers effectively is vital for the following reasons:
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Google Play Compliance: Meeting the 12 testers requirement is non-negotiable. If your app doesn’t meet this condition, it can result in rejection or delays in your public release. Proper management ensures that your testers actively participate in the testing process.
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Effective Feedback: Regularly tracking your testers ensures that they provide useful, timely feedback. This allows you to identify and fix any issues in your app before it’s made publicly available.
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Efficient Test Management: Managing testers ensures that all the required devices and configurations are covered. This helps in testing your app across various platforms and scenarios, providing more reliable results.
Best Practices for Tracking and Managing Testers
1. Set Clear Expectations for Testers
Before beginning the testing process, communicate clearly with your testers about their responsibilities. Inform them of the following:
- Testing time frame: They need to test the app for the full 14-day period.
- What to test: Provide instructions on specific features, functions, or use cases that need testing.
- How to submit feedback: Give guidelines on how testers should report issues (e.g., through a Google Form, email, or within the app itself).
2. Use Google Play Console’s Built-In Features
Google Play Console offers a few tools to help manage your testers effectively:
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Closed Testing Track: Create a separate closed testing track in Google Play Console for your testers. This allows you to share your app with only your selected testers.
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Tester Invitations: Send out invitations through email or a Google Group. Google Play Console provides the ability to invite testers through email addresses or share a URL with them to join the testing group.
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Monitor Tester Activity: Google Play Console allows you to track the status of testers—whether they’ve accepted the invitation, downloaded the app, and participated in the testing process. This helps you ensure that all 12 testers are active and engaged.
3. Create a Tester Management System
Keeping track of your testers manually can become overwhelming, especially with multiple apps and testers. Use tools like Google Sheets, Trello, or specialized software to track tester activity. Keep the following details in your system:
- Tester’s Name and Contact Info: Know who your testers are and how to reach them if necessary.
- Tester Participation Status: Track whether each tester has started, completed, or is still in the process of testing.
- Feedback Tracking: Make sure you record any feedback provided by testers for easier follow-up and to implement improvements.
4. Regularly Follow Up with Testers
To ensure that your testers are fully engaged, send regular follow-up reminders. These should encourage testers to continue their testing and provide feedback on the app. It’s essential to:
- Send reminders during the testing phase, especially around the 7-day and 14-day marks.
- Be available to answer questions and offer help during testing if any issues arise.
This helps ensure that the testers are actively involved and that you don’t fall short of meeting the 12 tester requirement.
5. Analyze Tester Feedback Effectively
Once the testing period is over, you’ll need to analyze the feedback provided by your testers. Sort the feedback into:
- Critical Issues: These need immediate attention to ensure your app functions properly.
- Minor Suggestions: These are enhancements or improvements that may not be urgent but will help improve the user experience.
- No Issues: Track which testers found no issues, confirming your app’s stability.
6. Manage Multiple Testers Efficiently
If you need to work with multiple testers or need extra testers to comply with the 12 testers rule, ensure that you:
- Diversify Tester Devices: Make sure your testers use various devices, operating systems, and network conditions to cover a wide range of real-world scenarios.
- Monitor Test Coverage: Ensure that testers are testing all aspects of your app, including core features and edge cases.
How 20apptester.com Can Help You Track and Manage Testers
If managing testers feels overwhelming or you don’t have enough reliable testers, 20apptester.com is here to help. We provide real testers who meet Google Play’s 12 testers requirement for closed testing. Our team will:
- Handle the entire testing process for you.
- Manage the tester invitations and ensure the required 12 testers participate.
- Provide actionable feedback and ensure the testing process is comprehensive and thorough.
We make it easier for you to meet Google Play’s requirements and pass the testing phase successfully.
Conclusion
Managing your Google Play testers efficiently is crucial for the success of your app’s launch. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your app meets Google Play’s closed testing requirements, including the critical 12 testers rule. Regularly tracking tester activity, analyzing feedback, and utilizing tools like Google Play Console will help you manage the process smoothly.
For those who prefer to avoid the hassle, 20apptester.com offers a professional service to manage your testers and ensure your app passes the testing phase and meets Google Play’s requirements without issue.