Interview with a Betabound All-Star: Alan McDougall

As our Betabound community grows (we currently have almost 100,000 members!), so does the diversity of our members. With each beta test we run, it’s imperative that we gather just the right group of testers to accurately represent the product’s target market. That being said, we come across every personality type imaginable — which is a great thing! This also adds a more interesting flavor to your experience, as a beta tester. Collaboration, communication, and overall community is what makes Betabound so great for its members. So, once again, we’d like to introduce a member of our fine Betabound community, Alan McDougall.

Alan is a Director of Educational Technology in Branford, CT. With over 10 years of beta testing experience under his belt, Alan has been involved in his fair share of tests and has frequently been rated as one of our top Betabound testers. Let’s hear what Alan has to share with the Betabound community.

What got you into beta testing?
I absolutely love testing new hardware and software. In fact, I do it at work every day.

What’s been your favorite part about being a beta tester?
Hands down, all the free stuff I’ve gotten over the years. The incentives are usually really cool. Other than that, participating in tests with other engaged beta testers is always a pleasure.

What makes being a beta tester for Betabound unique?
You get to work with some of the same Betabound testers across multiple tests. Not to mention that the Betabound staff is great.

What motivates you to keep devoting your time to beta testing?
I really enjoy early access to products, as well as the opportunity to influence that product’s development. It’s really great to help companies deliver higher quality products to consumers.

Any advice you would give to newer beta testers?
There are no stupid questions. If it’s not working for you, ask questions! That’s exactly what they are looking for. This is the one time in your life where breaking something isn’t bad. In fact, it can actually be a good thing.

Time and time again, we emphasize how important it is for the testers within our Betabound community to interact with one another. When testers get to talking, and share thoughts, ideas, concerns, or simply converse casually, that’s when our community really shines. That type of interaction is how products get the real-world testing that they need in order to be successful when they hit the market.

Are there any questions, points, or topics that you’d like to see our top-rated testers give their opinions on? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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