Socnare Pets: pet tags with superpowers, built in a week

Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog!

If you're anything like me, you worry every time you take your pet out for a walk. With that in mind, I decided to create Socnare Pets.

Live demo: https://pets.socnare.com

Tech stack:

Next.js
TailwindCSS
Prisma
Twilio

The genesis of Socnare Pets

My dog Duque is a gem. But every time I take him out for a walk, the thought of him getting lost worries me. Has that happened to you? Building on this universal worry, I decided to create QR tags for pets. The idea? Simple: when the QR is scanned, the owner gets a notification.

A nighttime project

Even though it may sound like a full-time thing, the truth is Socnare Pets was born and grew in my free hours. After the gym, before bed, there I was, polishing this idea.

Fast development: MVP to the rescue

With a clear goal, I went for an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). AWS Lambda was an option, but in the end I chose Next.js. The reason? Its ecosystem and how easy it makes prototyping, essential for projects on a tight schedule.

During development I kept my priorities clear. For example, QR scanning and the instant notification were vital. Onboarding, however, I left for later, opting for a Google Form to gauge interest.

Marketing and lessons learned

With the MVP ready, I wanted to see how people reacted, so I made a reel featuring Duque. The result: 1,300 plays in one day. But here comes the catch: only one conversion... and it was my best friend. That experience made it clear that converting is an art I still need to learn.

Socnare Pets reel

Final thoughts

Despite the challenges, I'm satisfied. I put my technical skills to the test and experienced first-hand the challenge of launching a product. This adventure gave me a unique perspective, and I'm ready for whatever comes next.