Guide

Getting started with askghost

What askghost does

Some of your users quietly stopped showing up. They won't tell you why in an in-app survey — they don't open your app anymore. The one channel that still reaches them is email.

askghost sends those dormant users one short, personal question and collects their answers into a clear report — so you finally learn why they left, in their own words.

It's feedback, not marketing. One honest question, not a campaign blast.

Why it works

  • Churned users are invisible inside your app.Banners and in-app surveys never reach someone who already left. A plain email does.
  • A 1:1 question gets replies.People ignore newsletters but answer "what made you stop using us?"
  • You get ranked reasons.Not open rates — the actual top reasons people left, grouped for you.

How a campaign works

  • Create a campaignGive it a name and pick a language.
  • Questionsaskghost drafts one or two short questions; you review and edit them.
  • RecipientsA CSV of dormant users — people who already used your product.
  • Sendaskghost delivers it for you. No DNS or DKIM setup to get started.
  • ReportResponses stream in, and the report does the counting for you.

What your report looks like

Once replies land, askghost turns them into a one-screen report:

  • Response ratee.g. 41% replied (37 of 90 delivered).
  • Top reasons, rankedAnswers grouped and counted, so one glance shows what dominates.
  • Plain-language insightsaskghost flags the pattern ("one reason dominates: pricing") and suggests a next step.
  • Their actual wordsWritten comments kept verbatim, not just the buckets.
  • A shareable linkHand the report to a cofounder, no account needed.

Getting your first campaign right

  • Bring a real list.Genuinely dormant existing users — people who signed up or used your product. Cold or purchased lists don't work here, and aren't allowed.
  • Ask "why."Keep it to one or two questions, like "What made you stop using [product]?" Short questions get more answers.
  • That's all you need.We handle delivery and walk through your first send with you.

What it costs

The private beta is a test of whether this is genuinely useful to people. That's why it's free — your real use and honest feedback are what matter most.

During the private beta

We send from [email protected], so there's nothing to configure to start.

Stuck or unsure? Email me directly at [email protected].