As I mentioned previously ... ways to beta test may include a Warrior Forum Special Offer (WSO), asking one partner or more of your core group to run an exclusive offer to their list(s), create/use a sub list of your own for that specific use, or run targeted PPC campaigns.

One good reason to use one or more from your core group to help you beta test is to get their feedback ... collectively, they should be able to provide personal input and data from their mailings sufficient enough to pick out the bugs and inconsistencies that may have adversely effected your launch if it had gone untested.

The bottom line is any testing is better than none at all.

As far as it not being 'new' ... it's in beta, and advertised as such, without the final touches, polish, bonuses, etc., of the 'final version' ... and the fact that it's not being advertised anywhere else but to those few lists should still make it exclusive enough ... no affiliate program links ... no way for it to be offered for sale by any other means ... just to that specific group.

Example ... one thing that Mike Filsaime did to pre sell and beta test Butterfly Marketing, simultaneously ... was to sell it at a discount to Seminar attendees well before it went on sale in Jan. of 2006. He took the feedback and testimonials from beta customers from multiple Seminars, and put it right back into the final product prior to launch ... didn't hurt, as you may remember.

Too often I see clients go into the launch blind with no way to see if others see the same value in what they are offering ... the same usability ... if the copy pulls the way it is intended ... just a handful of basic things that could make or break a launch given a fresh set or two of eyes to get a different perspective.

I always tell clients to start bringing partners on 4 - 6 weeks before a new product launch ... after touching base, find a few key partners to brainstorm and run test mailings during the first week or two of the cycle to hone and precise your offer and process ... that's just one idea.

The important thing is do do SOMETHING ... don't leave everything to chance, as your product and self brand ... not to mention the time and money put into the promotion, is at risk. Better your odds before rolling the dice.

Best,

Mike