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Scenario: Charles, Oliver, and Mabel run the successful podcast Only Murders in the Building. As their popularity mounts, they find that their own unfamiliarity with running an online business has become a detriment, resulting in losing ratings, subscribers, and merchandise and ad revenue.

Problems: Charles and Oliver are not web savvy. They allow Mabel to run the marketing side of their business. Though a brilliant digital artist, Mabel does not have formal training with web design, SEO, marketing, etc. They have lost subscribers as users have trouble finding and navigating their site. The trio cannot afford an outside company to manage their web presence. There is sometimes an issue with their online merchandise ordering system - orders get lost, do not process, etc. Sponsors have pulled their ads due to a decrease in subscribers. What is the testing using the SDLC?

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In the context of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), testing refers to the phase where the system or product is evaluated to ensure it meets the specified requirements and is free of defects. Given the scenario involving Charles, Oliver, and Mabel's podcast, here is an outline of how testing could be implemented using the SDLC framework to address their issues:

  1. Requirements Analysis (Planning Phase):

    • Define the specific needs for their website, such as improved navigation, user-friendly ordering systems, SEO optimization, and effective marketing tools.
    • Identify critical metrics for success, such as subscriber growth, order fulfillment accuracy, and website traffic.

  2. Design (Design Phase):

    • Create wireframes and mockups for an updated website layout to improve user experience.
    • Develop specifications for an updated merchandise ordering system, including how orders are processed and tracked.
    • Outline SEO strategies and marketing campaign templates to enhance outreach.

  3. Implementation (Development Phase):

    • Build or update the website based on the designs. Here, Mabel could collaborate with an online website builder that offers user-friendly design capabilities and built-in SEO tools, enabling her to create a professional site without formal training.
    • Implement the merchandise ordering system with reliable payment processing and order management.

  4. Testing (Testing Phase):

    • Unit Testing: Test individual components of the website and merchandise system to ensure each part functions correctly (e.g., testing the order submission process, navigation links, etc.).
    • Integration Testing: Check the interactions between components, such as ensuring that orders correctly populate in the tracking system once submitted.
    • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Involve actual users (fans of the podcast) to navigate the website and make orders, gathering feedback on ease of use, appearance, and functionality.
    • Load Testing: Simulate a large number of users to evaluate the website's performance under stress (ensuring it can handle their growing subscriber base and traffic).

  5. Deployment (Implementation Phase):

    • Once testing is complete and any identified issues are resolved, deploy the updated website and ordering system, making sure to communicate the changes to subscribers and followers.

  6. Maintenance (Maintenance Phase):

    • Monitor the website's performance, order accuracy, and subscriber engagement continuously.
    • Gather ongoing feedback and make iterative improvements based on user experiences.
    • Stay informed about digital marketing trends to adjust their strategy as needed.

By incorporating these testing strategies into their SDLC process, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel can enhance their online business's effectiveness, rebuild their subscriber base, and ensure a better experience for their audience and merchandise customers. This comprehensive effort might also help attract potential sponsors again as their metrics improve.