From Passion Project to Global Impact: Community Growth Insights from Areej AbuAli

In our latest Digital Community Leaders Podcast, we had the joy of speaking with Areej AbuAli, founder of Women in Tech SEO. 

What started in 2019 as a personal mission to find a sense of belonging has rapidly evolved into a thriving global community, with over 10,000 active members and regular events across the UK, Europe, and the USA.

Areej’s experience offers a masterclass in growing organic community engagement. Reflecting on the early days, she candidly shared:

“Initially, in the first few months, it was this worry of, 'I need to initiate so many conversations and guide them.' Over time, you reach this beautiful tipping point where engagement becomes completely organic, and you're hardly ever needing to step in.”

A pivotal insight from Areej is the transformative shift community leaders experience when their community begins self-sustaining engagement:

“It’s so beautiful when members take ownership, start asking and answering questions, and naturally support one another without needing constant direction.”

One key takeaway from our conversation was the importance of setting clear expectations from the outset. Areej highlighted how effective onboarding and consistent communication of community values have led to meaningful interactions:

“Effective onboarding is crucial. You have to clearly communicate your code of conduct from the start. I noticed that now, members proactively remind each other, 'there’s no such thing as a silly question,' before I even need to step in. This happens because we consistently model that behaviour.”

Transparency was another key theme. When updating community guidelines, Areej believes openness builds trust and reinforces community culture:

“If an issue arises, it’s not about naming and shaming. Instead, we transparently share with our members why we're making a certain change. Building in public this way helps everyone feel involved and trusted.”

Another remarkable aspect of the Women in Tech SEO community is its organic financial sustainability. Rather than membership fees, community growth is supported through sponsorship and partnerships, often driven by the community members themselves:

“Members who've benefited from the community, perhaps by launching products or agencies, frequently return as partners or sponsors. The growth becomes organic, as members naturally advocate for the community’s ongoing success.”

Ultimately, Areej measures success not merely in numbers but in powerful, individual stories that emerge from community interactions:

“Two active members recently co-founded a company together after connecting through our community. Stories like this, of real-world impact, are incredibly fulfilling and motivate me to keep going.”

Discover more about Women in Tech SEO or get involved at womenintechseo.com.