Tips for getting product testers (and getting the right feedback)

It is so, so hard to find testers — alpha, beta, whateva (sorry, had to).

I’ve been running both user acquisition and tester activation for our product. I wanted to share a few hard-earned lessons in case they’re helpful for others trying to get meaningful signal out of early users.

1. Define what you're trying to learn.

"Does it work?" is very different from "Where does it break for real users?" or "Will this retain the kind of user we want to grow with?" You need to decide if you’re trying to QA the system or pressure test the UX. That clarity alone will change where you look for testers and what you're willing to spend.

2. Consider if volume is really your friend.

We ran paid UA for test users. Honestly? In the early days, all it told us was that we weren’t ready for end users with short attention spans. And unless you’re building for power users or enthusiasts, that’s exactly who most early paid traffic brings in.

It becomes a math problem fast:

100 people sign up

50 never open your invite email

30 ignore the download link

20 download

10 forget to open the app

7 churn after one use

So is it better to pay $1 each for 100 randos, or $100 for one person who will test every flow you care about?

3. Waitlists have an expiration date.

Even the strongest brands can't leave people hanging forever. That early excitement you’re trying to generate? It fades fast. People will move on, forget your name, or worse — feel let down when you finally show up late with an undercooked product.

If you’re going to open the tent and start sending invites, make sure the circus is actually ready. Otherwise, you're torching not just that user's attention, but their willingness to ever care again.

4. Don’t overlook purpose-built testing tools.

If you need structured feedback, consider something like Centercode’s user testing program. They're not cheap, but they’ll give you real data instead of “meh vibes.”

What’s been your experience getting testers? Any surprising wins? Or things that completely backfired?