Insider Tips for Getting Started with Ghost Inspector

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, Amber! To start things off, would you share with us what your job at Ghost Inspector entails?

As Head of Sales Development, I’m typically the first point of contact for potential clients, as I host all the product demos. When someone signs up for a demo, I take the time to understand what they’re looking for, so I can personalize their walkthrough of our app to their needs.

In each demo, I explain how our testing works and show how easy it is to run tests on websites and web apps. It’s pretty straightforward, but it really helps people understand the value we offer. And I always leave time for questions at the end.

Outside of demos, I spend time following up with clients and potential users via email or hopping on calls to answer any questions about things like pricing or getting started. And if more complex technical questions come up, I loop in our dev team to make sure that clients can get the best answers. I also continue to remain available post-demo to help potential clients figure out if Ghost Inspector is the right fit for them.

What are your favorite features that Ghost Inspector offers?

That’s a tough one! There are a lot of great features, but one of my favorites is definitely the visual test recorder. It lets users record their interactions with the web app, and then it automatically creates tests based on those actions. It’s such a time-saver and really removes the need for manual testing, which is often the main reason people come to us, especially folks in QA who just don’t have the time to run manual tests over and over.

I also really like the data-driven testing feature. A lot of people ask on demos if they can use CSV or JSON files, and the answer is yes, it’s super easy to integrate. I love that feature, because we’re such a data-driven company, and it’s great that the product supports that so well.

We’ve pulled some of your most frequently asked questions during demos to help new Ghost Inspector users hit the ground running. Let’s start with a very popular question:

Do you need to install anything on your website to use Ghost Inspector?

Nope, no installations or downloads necessary. It’s really easy. Once you sign up for a subscription, you can access everything through our browser extension on Chrome or Firefox.

Do you need to run tests through your production site?

No, you can actually record tests on any URL. Actually, when I first started at Ghost Inspector, I ran tests on a couple major eCommerce and news sites, just to get a feel for it. Once you’re logged into your Ghost Inspector account, any test you run gets added to your suite regardless of the site, and you’ll be able to see whether it passed or failed. It’s very flexible.

You could also use, for example, a staging server – as long as that URL is accessible to us. And the starting URL of a test can be edited or overridden at any time. You could record a test on your live site, then point it to a staging server, or vice versa.

Is there a time limit on how long a test run can last?

Yes, each test can run for up to 10 minutes. But honestly, I’ve never had anyone tell me their test needs to run longer than that, or that the time limit was a dealbreaker. It’s a pretty standard length for most use cases. If a test does happen to go over 10 minutes, it’ll just time out and stop automatically.

Can you run a single test multiple times concurrently?

Yes, you can trigger the same test multiple times using the “Run Test” button in the application or through the API. You can also trigger tests and suite with various sets of data using a CSV file.

This is actually a question I get a lot. People often ask how they can be sure each test gets the proper attention when they need to run several simultaneously. The good news is that all tests are treated equally. They enter the queue with the same priority and begin running at the same time, rather than one after another in a specific order.

One thing to note is that if you’re running a large batch – say 30 to 50 tests at once – you might notice a bit of a slowdown. It’s not something most users run into, but it’s helpful to be aware of if you’re planning a larger-scale test run.

Can you run tests through an API?

Yes, we have an API that’s available to all users.

Let’s finish up with a few questions about why people should choose Ghost Inspector. In your opinion, who is Ghost Inspector best suited for as a product?

I think Ghost Inspector is a great fit for anyone looking to automate their browser testing. It could be someone running a small business or managing a few personal websites who doesn’t have the time to manually check everything, and the automation gives them peace of mind. And it also works just as well for large companies with full QA teams who need to save time and get notified right away if something breaks.

Whether it’s one person or a team of thousands, it all comes down to simplifying the testing process and making sure things run smoothly without all the manual effort.

What happens if a potential client asks for a feature that Ghost Inspector doesn’t offer?

I always encourage people to let us know if there’s a feature they’re looking for that we don’t currently offer. In many cases, Dmitry from our development team can create it or let us know if it’s possible. He’s incredibly knowledgeable and great to work with.

When someone has a feature request, I usually suggest they send it through our ticket request system rather than passing it to me directly. That way, it’s easier for our dev team to keep track of, and they can communicate directly with the user if needed.

We’re always happy to receive feature requests. If it’s something we can support, our team is quick to look into it.

Have you gotten feedback from people after they’ve signed on, sharing why they chose Ghost Inspector or what they love about it?

Yes, definitely. I hear great feedback all the time. A lot of people mention how easy and user-friendly the product is. The interface is really intuitive, which makes it simple to get started. I also get a lot of compliments on our customer service. People often tell me how helpful and kind the team is, and honestly, it means a lot.

I’ve had folks talk about how smooth the whole experience has been—from chatting with me during the demo, to getting support through Intercom from our developers, and then continuing on with Austin [Blackley], who’s amazing on the customer service side.

I think it’s really a mix. People love the product itself, but they also appreciate the support and the people behind it. I always make sure to pass that feedback on to the team, because everyone plays a part in making the experience great.

Any last tips for someone who just downloaded Ghost Inspector and is using it for the first time?

I’d say the best thing to do is just jump in and try it out. Sign up for the free trial. It doesn’t cost anything, and you don’t need to add a credit card. It’s a great way to see if Ghost Inspector is the right fit without any pressure.

I always recommend booking a demo call with me as well. Not only do we walk through the product together, but, there’s a secret bonus: you also get an extra two weeks added to your trial.

And once you’ve started, you can count on us to support you. If you run into anything you’re unsure about, like if a test may not be working as expected, our dev team is great about jumping in to fix the issue and to explain what happened.

So the main things are to start the trial, schedule a demo if you can, and reach out to us whenever you need help.

Ok, one final very important question: Do you agree that Ghostie is the best mascot across the board in automated web testing?

100%! No one better.

If you’d like to give Ghost Inspector a try, you can schedule a free demo with Amber or sign up for a free trial, no credit card required.