How to Use SeaText AI on a Staging or Development Domain

You can use SeaText AI on a staging or development domain by connecting that domain to its own SeaText account. Install the JavaScript snippet, verify the connection, then activate the AI on the pages you want to test. The important rule: use a valid, real domain, not localhost, because each SeaText account is linked to a single primary URL.

If you already use SeaText AI on a live site, keep that account for production. Create a separate account for staging or development, and test there without changing your live site.

What this setup does

SeaText AI works on a staging or development domain the same way it works on a live site: the JavaScript code loads on your pages, the domain is linked to your account, and you activate the AI from the Main AI Hub. The difference is that a test domain needs its own account and its own real domain name.

The installation process is secure, and the AI remains inert until activated. That means you can install the code on a staging site without changing what visitors see until you turn the AI on.

Prerequisites before you start

• A SeaText AI account. If you do not have one, create it before installing the script.
• A valid, real domain for the staging or development site. localhost is restricted for security reasons.
• Access to edit the site's HTML or add custom JavaScript. On WPEngine, install the WP Engine plugin that enables you to add custom JavaScript across all pages.
• The JavaScript code provided by SeaText AI from the General Integration page.
• At least 10 minutes for setup and verification, plus time to stay on the page for 40 seconds during activation.

Step-by-step: Install SeaText AI on a staging or development domain

Follow these steps in order. Use a separate account for each domain, and use a real domain rather than localhost.

Step 1: Create a separate account for the staging domain

If you need SeaText AI on multiple domains, create separate accounts for each domain. Each SeaText AI account is linked to a single primary URL. In other words, your production domain gets one account and your staging or development domain gets another.

Step 2: Copy the JavaScript code

Log in to your SeaText AI account and copy the JavaScript code provided by SEATEXT AI. You can find it on the General Integration page.

Step 3: Add the code to your staging or development site

Add the script to every page where you want SeaText AI to work. If you are using WPEngine, download the WP Engine plugin that enables you to add custom JavaScript code to your pages. Install it and apply it across all your pages.

For other platforms, add the snippet through your usual integration method. The goal is the same: the code needs to load on the staging or development domain.

Step 4: Use a valid, real domain

Do not try to use localhost. Development URLs such as localhost are restricted for security reasons. Dynamic development domains may also fail, because SeaText AI might not reliably associate traffic with your account.

Use a stable domain you control, such as staging.example.com or dev.example.com. That gives SeaText AI a consistent URL to connect to your account.

Step 5: Activate the connection

Visit or refresh your website several times and stay on your page for at least 40 seconds. This activates the AI and links it to your account.

Then wait at least five minutes. Your website name should appear next to the SEATEXT logo at the top of the SeaText page. That is the signal that the domain is connected and ready for the next step.

Step 6: Verify before moving on

After five minutes, check that your website name appears next to the SEATEXT logo. If it does not appear at the top of the page after 10 minutes, contact support. This could indicate an issue during installation on your platform.

Verify the connection and activate the AI

Verification is not optional. The connection check tells you whether SeaText AI can reliably associate traffic with your account. Without it, the AI may not know which domain to work on.

Once the site name is visible, proceed to the Main AI Hub to activate the AI on the pages you want. Click Configuration to adjust the AI parameters. SeaText AI also provides an initial round of automatic translations and variants for testing. You can review or edit them in Variants Edit in the left panel: select the URL and language, then make manual changes.

What to test on the staging domain

• Activate one agent in the Main AI Hub and check how the page behaves.
• Use Configuration to adjust parameters for that agent.
• Review the automatic translations and variants in Variants Edit by selecting the staging URL and language.
• Make manual edits and confirm they apply to the staging account.

Staging vs. production setup

Use the table below to keep the two environments separate.

Keep the accounts separate. Since each account is linked to a single primary URL, reusing one account for both environments can prevent traffic from being associated with the right domain.

Key facts at a glance

Limitations and restrictions to plan around

• localhost is not allowed. Use a valid, real domain.
• Dynamic development domains may not function properly because SeaText AI might not reliably associate traffic with your account.
• One account is linked to one primary URL. To use SeaText AI on multiple websites, create one account for each website.
• The AI is inert until activated. Installation alone does not start rewriting content.
• If the site name does not appear after 10 minutes, contact support instead of continuing to wait.

These restrictions matter for staging work because a test domain that changes URL frequently will look unreliable to the system. Give your staging environment a stable domain name before installing the code.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Frequently asked questions

Can I use localhost as my development domain?

No. Development URLs such as localhost are restricted for security reasons. Use a valid, real domain instead.

Do I need a separate SeaText account for staging and production?

Yes. Each SeaText AI account is linked to a single primary URL, so multiple domains require separate accounts.

What happens if I use the same account on two domains?

The account is tied to one primary URL, so the second domain cannot be linked reliably. Create another account for the additional domain.

How long does activation take?

Visit or refresh the site several times and stay for at least 40 seconds. Check after five minutes. If the site name does not appear after 10 minutes, contact support.

Will installing the script change my staging site immediately?

No. The installation process is secure, and the AI remains inert until you activate it in the Main AI Hub.

Can I edit the content SeaText AI generates on the staging domain?

Yes. Log in to your account, go to Variants Edit, select the URL and language, and review or edit translations and variants.

Terminology used in this guide

• Primary URL: The single domain linked to a SeaText AI account.
• Staging or development domain: A separate site used to test changes before they reach production.
• Dynamic development domain: A URL that changes or is generated per session. It may prevent SeaText AI from associating traffic with your account.
• Main AI Hub: The SeaText area where you activate the AI on pages and adjust configuration.
• Variants Edit: The SeaText panel where you can review, create, or edit translations and variants by URL and language.