The new 5-day build of the Skoop SaaS website and Dashboard

The Troy Agency Website Creation Process

June 9, 2024

Published by The Troy Agency on November 4, 2024

What is Skoop?

Imagine having the power to instantly send short videos, voice memos, and animated GIFs that convert conversations into clients—all within your LinkedIn DMs, posts, comments, emails, and more. That’s the vision behind Skoop. It’s a unique SaaS product, primarily designed as a Chrome extension, to create personalized connections on LinkedIn, Gmail, Microsoft 365, and almost any platform that supports a camera and microphone.

We built Skoop’s website and dashboard in just five days—yes, five days to transform it from “functional but a little ugly” to a polished platform. Here’s how we did it.

How did Skoop come to be? This section covers its development process, how it started, and how far it has come.

Skoop was developed by Troy Hipolito, the Owner and CEO of The Troy Agency. The Troy Agency works with B2B businesses to grow their brand, business, and bookings. In the course of business, Troy discovered a gap when connecting on LinkedIn. Many other entrepreneurs were using dm messaging to reach their audience. This tactic soon became obsolete since many other entrepreneurs were using messaging that started to sound very generic and templated. Troy figured out that video was the solution to connect genuinely and foster long-lasting relationships. Unfortunately, there was no easy way to send a video directly on LinkedIn using your PC.

Troy started developing Skoop with our in-house development team to fill this gap. Development took 3 months, and the software was launched in the Chrome Store as a Chrome Extension.

The software has grown to become very useful in creating valuable relationships and increasing revenue on LinkedIn and beyond.

Skoop-1 Pager

Why We Needed a Quick Build

When we launched Skoop, the original site was created in a “let’s-get-this-out-there” kind of way—built in about 3-4 hours. It was functional enough to introduce the product, but we knew it needed a full overhaul. With user demand growing and new features on the way, we needed a professional-looking website and dashboard that would reflect Skoop’s core values of simplicity, speed, and personalization.

So, we decided to tackle the rebuild in just five days. Why the rush? Well, when you’re your own client, you can fast-track approvals, make instant design decisions, and—let’s be honest—cheat a little to get things done. With the right plan, a modern technology stack, and the efficiency of a small, dedicated team, you can get almost anything done.

Day 1: Planning and Content Creation Sprint

When speed is the goal, planning is critical. On Day 1, we mapped out the sitemap and created almost all the content for the new site in a single day. It wasn’t flawless—there were a few on-the-fly adjustments as we went—but we ended up about 98% there.

Being our own client allowed us to move quickly without any of the usual bottlenecks. We set up a clear content structure, prioritized the essential messaging, and prepped the visual and functional elements. By the end of Day 1, we had a game plan that balanced both design and functionality.

Days 2-4: Building the Website with Sandbox Template

For the website build, we chose a Next.js Sandbox template. It’s modern, fast, and has everything we need, from style guides to customizable blocks, without resorting to a WordPress setup. This template allowed us to deliver on speed and scalability while offering a visually clean, professional look.

With Sandbox’s rich features, we could pull in:

Visual blocks: Interactive, categorized sections for clear messaging.
Blog functionality: An essential section for content updates and user help in the future.
Demos and project pages: So visitors can see the possibilities with Skoop.

We spent these three days fine-tuning the visuals, testing functionality, and making on-the-fly adjustments. The template’s modular design made it easy to iterate as we worked, making changes almost as quickly as we thought of them.

Dashboard Development: Where the Magic Happens

The website might be the public face of Skoop, but the dashboard is where the magic really happens. We built out an intuitive admin system, allowing us to manage features and communication directly with Skoop’s application. The dashboard includes:

Complete Support System for user queries
Affiliate Program Management to reward partners
User Management and control over special codes for discounts
Integration with AppSumo and, soon, Calendar Sync
Version Control for easy updates and testing

Developing this dashboard was a balancing act between functionality and simplicity. We wanted it to feel robust for admins without overwhelming them.

Design Trials and Triumphs: Logo Creation

Ah, the logo. Designing Skoop’s logo was an adventure of its own. We originally hired a graphic designer with a decent portfolio, but the results? Let’s just say it felt more like a “first-year student” than a polished professional. It was clear they didn’t grasp the look and feel we wanted, so we parted ways, and I decided to handle it in-house.

The final logo design is clean and modern, aligning with Skoop’s brand image. In hindsight, the extra time and attention here made all the difference in creating a recognizable identity that feels authentic.

Logo Progression

The Perks of Working with Ourselves as the Client

Working on Skoop as an internal project brought unique advantages. Unlike client projects, where delays are the norm (waiting on content, approvals, tech setup, etc.), our team could move fast. We skipped those common bottlenecks and turned a process that might’ve taken two months into a five-day sprint. Here’s why:

We had all the content ready from Day 1.
Visual elements and photos were prepared in advance.
Approvals? Instantaneous. We’d decide, and boom—moving forward.
No delays over minor tech issues or misplaced emails from “Billy the IT guy” (who sometimes “doesn’t know jack squat”).

With this momentum, our five-day timeline was not only possible but efficient.

The Final Product: 5 Days, a Polished SaaS Platform

In five days, Skoop’s website and dashboard went from “functional” to “ready to convert.” The new build is fast, stable, and designed for users to grasp Skoop’s core offerings quickly. By focusing on streamlined content, modern tech, and robust backend functionality, we’ve created a platform that’s both intuitive and impactful.

Skoop now empowers users with quick, personalized communication tools that convert interactions into meaningful relationships—whether that’s through short video messages, voice memos, or animated GIFs. We’ve built something that’s not only useful but exciting to use.

Try Skoop for Yourself

Skoop was built to help you connect in a more personal way. If you’re curious to see what a tool like this can do for your LinkedIn game (or any platform that supports video and voice), give Skoop a try. And don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to hear how it’s working for you!

Conclusion:

Skoop was developed with the user in mind; it’s a tool that helps you connect genuinely, build better relationships, and increase revenue. Download it and use it with LinkedIn, Gmail, and other platforms to add a new dimension of personalization to your communications. Imagine logging into LinkedIn and having a unique message ready—one that truly speaks to your connections, setting you apart from the flood of generic messages they receive daily. With Skoop, your outreach becomes more than just another connection request; it’s an opportunity to leave a lasting impression.

To get started, try using Skoop’s video messaging feature for an introductory message. Record a quick video and send it to a new or existing connection. This simple step can open doors to deeper conversations and business opportunities.

So go ahead—download Skoop, create your first video, and start building the relationships that drive success.

Watch these tutorial videos to help you get started: