For both the self-publisher and writers picked up by a publisher, using alpha and beta testers is a crucial part of the editing process. It’s not talked about much and is kind of a secret weapon among professional level writers to bring a good book up to a great book.
Authors use alpha and beta testers before submitting their book to an editor. It’s a small test market to see what readers think of the book.
Alpha testers are friends and family and comes first. You want critiques and what they did and didn’t like. The goal isn’t to please everyone who finds something they didn’t like. That’s impossible. The goal is to find overlap within critiques.
For example, if more than one person thinks a scene is slow, you may want to take a look at it.
What many readers fail to realize is that some things are meant to be slow or meant to be annoying to add contrast. An action packed scene that had a slow scene before it adds contrast and makes the action scene that much more meaningful. Most of the feedback you get will be things that you won’t want to change since they add tension, build up, push the plot, etc. But that’s not the point. What you’re looking for are overlapping comments.
Issues that overlap may be concerns. Not all of them will be things that need to be fixed, but overlaps are what you should be giving serious thought to. Are they right? Would it require a major rework to fix or is it something simple?
If you have an author blog or Facebook page, you can offer several of your fans a free copy with a request for a critique. If not, you can ask on writer forums or hire professional readers on places like Fiverr.
Again you're looking mostly for overlap or common issues your beta testers are mentioning. The critiques you get from family and friends are different than what you will get from fans and other authors.
The multitude of other eyes on the book help you see it from your reader’s perspective, something that's nearly impossible after spending hours a day, month after month, writing.
Following these steps from alpha to beta testers is the best way to bring a good book up to a great book.
It's important to network as an author so that you have other authors and fans to test your book for you. Feedback is so important during the final polishing stages of editing your work.
If you haven’t already, start an author Facebook page, Twitter account and even an author blog. Reach out to other authors to build relationships and be in contact with your current readers.
If you’ve burned too many bridges at home with multiple requests to friends and family, are either a new author without fans, or simply don't want to go the social media route, then paid readers are your best option. Even if you have a large family and plenty of fans, the paid reader is going to give you unbiased opinions. It's worth throwing in a paid reader or two.
Places like Fiverr and HugeOrange are the best way to get beta readers. Fiverr is cheaper but you get less quality, so it depends on your budget and the job you want done.
Finally, after your book has been tested by these readers, you will submit it to an editor, knowing that your book is as polished as you can get it. A professional editor will have an easier time with their job as a result and be impressed with your mad skills!