diff --git a/.github/workflows/cd.yaml b/.github/workflows/cd.yaml
index 03e1c4c450..717f2a92e1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cd.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cd.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+      - beta
 jobs:
   CD:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -25,11 +26,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
-        # see https://github.com/tschaub/gh-pages/issues/345
-        run: |
-          git remote set-url origin https://git:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}.git
-          ./script/cd
-      - name: post-release
+        run: ./script/cd
+
+      # Only performed if `main` is updated
+      # See https://docs.github.com/en/actions/reference/environment-variables#determining-when-to-use-default-environment-variables-or-contexts
+      - if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
+        name: post-release
         uses: guardian/actions-merge-release-changes-to-protected-branch@v1.1.0
         with:
           # This action will raise a PR to edit package.json.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 41642edeb6..54110e405b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ To release a new version:
    - Release a new version to npm and update `package.json`.
 1. Enjoy a comment on your PR to inform you that your change has been released.
 
+For more information, see the docs on [testing][docs-testing].
 
 <!-- only links below here -->
 [badge-cd]: https://github.com/guardian/cdk/actions/workflows/cd.yaml/badge.svg
@@ -114,6 +115,8 @@ To release a new version:
 [directory-docs]: ./docs
 [directory-script]: ./script
 
+[docs-testing]: ./docs/006-testing.md
+
 [internal-cd-file]: https://github.com/guardian/cdk/actions/workflows/cd.yaml
 [internal-discussions]: https://github.com/guardian/cdk/discussions
 [internal-website]: https://guardian.github.io/cdk/
diff --git a/docs/006-testing.md b/docs/006-testing.md
index b96c96e303..342a01ec82 100644
--- a/docs/006-testing.md
+++ b/docs/006-testing.md
@@ -29,9 +29,32 @@ You can use the [CDK Playground][cdk-playground] stack to test your changes agai
 
 This stack isn't user facing. Accidentally causing destruction there is ok - better there than on theguardian.com!
 
+### Would your change update the layout of the NPM package?
+It can sometimes be necessary to update the layout of the NPM package.
+
+These changes can be quite difficult to simulate locally using `npm link` or similar.
+
+For this reason, it can be helpful to publish a beta version to NPM. To do so:
+  1. Update the `beta` branch
+  1. Wait for the robots (GitHub Actions) to run and release a beta version
+
+You can now install and test your changes with:
+
+```
+npm install @guardian/cdk@beta
+```
+
+Once you're happy with your changes, raise a PR into `main` as normal.
+
+NOTE: The `beta` branch is just like any other branch - it may not be up to date with `main`.
+It's wise to rebase it with `main` before working on it.
+
+For more information, see the [semantic-release docs][semantic-release-docs]
+
 <!-- only links below here -->
 [internal-testing-adr]: ./architecture-decision-records/004-testing.md
 [internal-integration-project]: ../tools/integration-test
 [internal-integration-project-stack]: ../tools/integration-test/src/integration-test-stack.ts
 
 [cdk-playground]: https://github.com/guardian/cdk-playground
+[semantic-release-docs]: https://github.com/semantic-release/semantic-release/blob/master/docs/recipes/distribution-channels.md
diff --git a/release.config.js b/release.config.js
index 2352ab629d..b5700d5f41 100644
--- a/release.config.js
+++ b/release.config.js
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 module.exports = {
-  branches: ["main"],
+  branches: [
+    // commits to the `main` branch will be released to npm as normal
+    { name: "main" },
+
+    // commits to the `beta` branch will be released to `@guardian/cdk@beta`
+    { name: "beta", prerelease: true },
+  ],
   plugins: [
     "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
     "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
diff --git a/script/cd b/script/cd
index e2c2582346..20a018dd8d 100755
--- a/script/cd
+++ b/script/cd
@@ -9,4 +9,11 @@ npm run build
 npm run test
 npm run lint
 npm run release
-npm run release:docs
+
+# Update the docs site only when `main` is updated
+if [ $GITHUB_REF = "refs/heads/main" ]; then
+  # see https://github.com/tschaub/gh-pages/issues/345
+  git remote set-url origin https://git:${GITHUB_TOKEN}@github.com/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}.git
+
+  npm run release:docs
+fi