Category: Community

Building a strong team spirit and a genuine sense of belonging is never easy. When SiteGround first started, we were a small but ambitious team with a true startup mindset. But how do you preserve that same closeness when there are more than 550 experts, spread across different countries, teams, and generations? That challenge rests largely on the shoulders of our Events team – the people who craft experiences that bring our global community together.

Their work shines brightest during our Team Festivals – the moments when the entire SiteGround family comes together. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes for an exclusive look at how it all comes together. Meet our Events Managers, who recently led our latest Team Retreat – a special event that unites 500+ SiteGrounders to share hobbies, learn new things, spark ideas, and truly connect.

From wild logistics to heartfelt teamwork, it’s clear that every event has its surprises. Here is what our events look like:

We sat down with them to learn what it really takes to shape SiteGround’s culture through events, and how their roles have evolved as the company has grown.

Q1: To set the stage, what’s something about your job that would surprise people?

Ramelina: I guess it would be the fact that I never get tired of my work. Every time I’m organizing an internal event, I’m genuinely excited to see my colleagues’ smiles. That excitement keeps me going—I’ve never felt exhausted, even when I’m holding flower scissors in my hand, removing vinyl from fences after only three hours of sleep. I truly love every minute of it.

Stanislava: The best thing about organizing events is that you never know what wild idea or unexpected task you’ll get involved in. For example, last year for our Team Festival, we had to find 30 huge water tanks to create a light installation, which led me to research where to rent water containers from! This year, we brought a giant floating SiteGround logo all the way to Greece and installed it in a pool. People are often surprised that all of these diverse projects are handled entirely in-house. And honestly, that’s one of the things I love most about being an Events Manager.

Q2: But beyond the behind-the-scenes hustle, how do these experiences actually shape SiteGround’s culture?

Ramelina: When you look at typical team-building photos or videos from different companies and then compare them to ours, you instantly see the difference. Our motto, “Never Bored. Never Boring.” isn’t just a marketing slogan, but a true reflection of who we are. Everything we create is by us, for us, driven by the creativity and enthusiasm of our colleagues across departments. That’s what makes our events so authentic and full of energy.

Stanislava: SiteGround’s annual Team Festival perfectly captures our team spirit. It brings together collaboration across many departments – Designers, Office managers, IT experts, Social media team and Creative teams, Accounting, Legal, and more. During the festival, it’s our own team members who lead the main workshops like 3D printing, electronics, handicrafts, sports activities, and many others. Despite everyone’s different day-to-day roles, we all become part of the ‘festival crew.’ This approach allows us to create something truly special, and everyone can feel it.

Q3: What’s one story from an event that perfectly captures the spirit of teamwork here?

Ramelina: One story? Impossible. There are dozens of them. However, the fact that we gather every year for a team photo, with all 500+ people coming together, and we’re still not bored from calling out “SiteGround” with broad smiles, speaks for itself. 

Q4: How do you measure the success of an internal event? 

Stanislava: There are many common event metrics like attendance rates, social media engagement, or post-event surveys. However, since events are inherently emotional, I prefer to focus on the energy that lingers afterward. What I see is people buzzing with excitement – sharing videos, photos, and stories.

And perhaps most importantly, our festivals often spark new friendships. This is especially important for new colleagues, who instantly feel included and connected. I know that from personal experience. When I joined SiteGround, it was just before a team event, and it helped me feel at home from the very start.

Q5: As SiteGround continues to grow, how have the challenges you face as an organizing team changed?

Ramelina: When there were fewer than a hundred people, it was easy to think about what everyone might enjoy. Now, with more than 500 colleagues, we have to focus on what will appeal to the majority, while still making sure each person feels included and seen. That’s a tough balance to strike. But because our events are created by us, for us, and always infused with positivity, the result is inevitably something special.

Stanislava: With such a large and diverse team, it’s impossible to match everyone’s taste in a single event, especially when it comes to the music lineup. But the beauty of SiteGround’s diversity is that it brings so many hidden talents together. So we turn the challenge of diversity into an advantage by including our own colleagues in the lineup. For example, our amazing rock band, made up entirely of SiteGround team members from Tech Support, AI Development, DevOps, and QA teams, rocks the stage every year. We even have DJ sets performed by one of our Product Owners! And one more from the Customer Care team! 

Q6: What is the biggest value of investing in memorable internal events?

Ramelina: Truly great internal events are a refreshing boost to our work-life balance. That’s why our team-buildings include a bit of everything – opportunities to learn something new, connect with nature, sing and dance, show your talents, and share your favorite hobbies. You even forget about your smartphone entirely and just enjoy being present with your teammates in real life.

Stanislava: SiteGround events remind me, and hopefully everyone, just how amazing the people we work with every day really are. They’re one of the things that truly set us apart because we pour our hearts into them, just like we do when creating our products and services. In the end, it’s these moments together that genuinely restore my faith in community and humanity in general.

We’ll leave you with a glimpse of the fun: check out our party photo gallery! And here’s a final thought from Ramelina that perfectly captures how our events shape SiteGround’s culture: “Creating only for work doesn’t work for long. You have to play. It’s a voyage, not a destination.”
P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Expert Spotlight series to get an inside look into different SiteGround departments!

Every day, our clients trust us with the digital spaces that power their businesses, passions, and dreams. And behind the scenes, there are experts who make sure those dreams keep running smoothly, even when unexpected challenges arise.

Meet one of those experts — Nikolay Tonchev, a Technical Support Agent in our Customer Success team. Known for his calm approach, creative problem-solving, and knack for turning difficult situations into positive outcomes, he ensures our clients feel supported every step of the way. Keep reading to have a peek into the backstage world of SiteGround teams. 

If you had to explain your work to a 5-year-old, how would you do it?

“Imagine a big toy store where kids come to play. I’m like a special helper in this store who can fix small problems, like putting in new batteries or showing how to make a toy work. But sometimes, there are bigger problems that need extra care, or kids want to make their toys even cooler with upgrades like adding a shiny sword to a robot. That’s where I come in! I’m like a Toy Doctor and Toy Guardian who makes sure everything works, adds improvements, and keeps things safe for website owners around the globe.”

What do you love most about what you do?

“What I love most is that working on different cases doesn’t happen by the book. You shouldn’t fit in a frame. You have the freedom to face problems with your own skillset in the way you are truly yourself. There are indeed general good practices to follow; however, each case pushes you to find your own approach to it.”

Advice for someone just starting in your career?

“Embrace the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. Discover something you love doing and take it one step at a time to excel at it.”

Favorite work hack?

“Automation! If there is one thing I consider a ‘hack,’ it’s automating repetitive tasks, as it saves valuable time for pursuing more complex cases.”

What 3 qualities does someone in your shoes need to have?

“The three qualities I prioritize are staying curious, being open-minded, and paying close attention to the tasks at hand.”

A tough interaction turned positive?

“A few years ago, I had a client whose domain was registered with another provider. We had already migrated their website to SiteGround, but they still needed to point their domain to our platform.

Not realizing the domain name was not transferred to us, he saw it listed for auction with his previous provider and panicked. The client was almost ready to bid for it and try to “buy” it from their previous provider, but we cleared it out  – it’s just that their previous provider offered the option to auction any domain registered with them. To prevent future mix-ups, they went ahead and transferred the domain to SiteGround as well. Once everything was sorted, we had a good laugh about it.”

What’s your go-to recharge activity outside of work?

“One activity that has consistently refueled my energy is cooking (pun intended). On sunny days, I enjoy heading outside to explore the city on my electric unicycle or staying in to practice my drum skills.”

How do you keep your work fresh and motivating?

“To keep my work exciting and maintain a healthy work-life balance, I make it a priority to regularly disconnect from the digital world with walks in nature, exploring places like serene waterfalls and lush forests. This way, I recharge and return to the office with a clear mind and a positive attitude.”

What is it like to work at SiteGround?

“Thanks to SiteGround, I’ve met many motivated and talented like-minded people. Over the years, I’ve built lasting friendships, thanks to the wealth of knowledge and the incredible atmosphere. I truly enjoy being part of a community that values and appreciates my efforts.”

Stay tuned for the next Expert Spotlight, where we’ll continue sharing the stories of the experts who make SiteGround a place where clients and their dreams can thrive.

Have you ever opened a website or app and felt like everything just flows – every click leading naturally to the next, like a smooth sail on a Summer day? That seamless experience doesn’t just happen. The truth is there’s a team of people, all pulling the ropes with lots of thinking and testing behind the scenes, so that you feel that breeze of ease in every click.

In this edition of Expert Spotlights, we’re excited to introduce one of the people in charge of designing these experiences throughout – a talented Product Designer on our SaaS product team, Daniela Borisova. She is constantly helping real people around the world on their journey to launch their dream site and succeed online with ease.  

Tell us a bit about what you are currently working on?

Currently, I’m working on SiteGround’s Website Builder, which aims to empower small business owners to launch their websites and grow their businesses. I love that we serve as the bridge between individuals who have the courage to launch their dream business and their customers, who will be the power that keeps it going. I’ve always believed that being a product designer is a very powerful and responsible position, as your solutions can have a direct impact on people’s dreams. It is so exciting!

What sparked your love for Product Design?

To be honest, I never imagined I’d become a Product Designer. I studied at the National Academy of Arts, aiming for a career in the arts field, but during my final year, I realized it no longer fulfilled my need for self-expression. That’s when I started exploring graphic design, but it was a weekly web design class in my last semester that changed everything. The incredible teacher introduced me to a world beyond visual design, showing me that web design involves much deeper and complex considerations. 

One story she told stuck with me. It was about how she was designing for an Arabic brand, where the team had to deeply understand a culture so different from their own. This story about how product designers need to immerse themselves in others’ lives and cultures left me inspired and curious. Later on, after a friend’s encouragement, I completed a series of design courses, worked pro bono, and eventually, after many ups and downs, got my first UX design role five years ago.

How is working the job different from studying about it?

The reality of working as a product designer is quite different from the academic one. This is something I always talk about when mentoring aspiring product designers.

When we study product design, the cases are usually idealised, where companies have no boundaries in terms of time, budget, and legacy. It’s not impossible to design “by the books”, but the truth is, when you join a company, it already has an existing product, and it comes with its own challenges. Often, schedules are tight, and design depth is accumulated. We as designers need to learn how to navigate this dynamic and look at it as an opportunity to make decisions quickly and perform faster, smaller iterations.

Another misconception is that the research, design, and development process is streamlined and linear. In reality, it’s not always like that, and that’s OK. When I started as a Junior Designer, I also had this belief, and it took me some time to embrace the dynamic environment and create a process that works for me.

You mentioned mentoring, can you share a bit about that?

I’ve always felt the urge to share my knowledge with those who might benefit from it, yet an inner voice often whispered, “What if it’s not good enough?”. 

Last year, I decided to challenge myself and accepted an invitation from one of the major Universities in my home country to deliver a lecture on contemporary art, choosing a topic of my interest. Speaking in front of students and educators, including PhDs and professors, was a transformative experience. The room was full, and I was pleasantly surprised by the audience’s keen interest. This led to an invitation to make it an annual event. Even right now I’m working on the next one I’m about to lead. 

Overcoming my fear made me realize that people are eager to listen to my insights. I was also a guest lecturer at the university where I received my design education, conducting a seminar attended by almost 400 people!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from this series of events is to never underestimate your knowledge and to act regardless of your insecurities. 

Speaking of lessons, which are the three qualities a successful Product Designer should have?

To me, the three most important qualities are:

1. Be open to feedback and collaboration
2. Be attentive and dive deep into the problems you are solving
3. Be adaptive to changing environments. 

I think that it’s fairly easy to learn a design tool or even coding with all the information we have nowadays, not to mention AI. But it’s not that easy to understand a complex problem with all its constraints or to accept that a design idea that you absolutely love might not always be the most appropriate for the business need. We need to be able to listen, leave our ego aside, and be open to anything. I deeply believe in being a good colleague and a person that others will love working with will take you a long way.

You mentioned AI, can you share whether you think AI has any place in Product Design? 

AI is a powerful assistant that can boost productivity and creativity when brainstorming ideas, the initial research phase, and many other activities. But it can’t replace a real human in solving complex problems and taking many aspects and constraints into account. We should not forget that we are building products for people (until we start doing it for AI agents as well).

Is there a go-to approach you rely on in your daily work?

I definitely believe in the “tried and trusted” processes. I always start my work by doing research on how other people solved similar problems to mine, because the existing solutions out there are what our users are using and are familiar with, have spent time with, and tend to search for similar solutions. It’s not me who claims that – it’s Jacob Nielsen (Jacob’s law).

In the design field, there is a very fine line between creating something that feels natural and innovation. Users don’t want to spend time navigating a steep learning curve for new products, so giving them already working patterns is helpful in making them feel confident.

How do you manage to stay creative and maintain your work/life balance?

The most important aspect of staying creative is bouncing ideas off my teammates. Everybody has different knowledge that can help you develop an idea and find the right solution.

As for work/life balance, it is very important for me to physically and mentally differentiate my personal space from my work space. Actually, my best office hack is to always “unwind” after work with a good workout. My advice is just move, regardless of the activity – you’ll feel great afterwards.

And during the weekends, I try to disconnect by learning new things and researching contemporary artists, practicing different sports, and going on long walks. I often joke that if you forget what you’ve been working on before the weekend, then you really had a good rest.

Finally, what’s the next big thing in your field of work that you’re excited about?

I am excited about diving deeper into our portfolio of products, contributing my expertise, and making a positive impact. There are amazing things to come at SiteGround, and we are working passionately to make them happen, so stay tuned.

You may know SiteGround as a technology company offering fast, secure, and reliable hosting and SaaS solutions for building, managing, and growing your online presence. But behind every tool and service is something even more powerful: a team of experts.

These experts are the heartbeat of our innovation, constantly shaping the products and experiences our customers rely on every day. Now, we’re launching a new series, “Expert Spotlight,” to present the brilliant minds that power your success.

Inspired by our dedication to doing everything with care, we decided that the first edition is not only about technical breakthroughs but also about care, dedication, and the human connection that defines everything we do.

At any hour, whether it’s a panicked midnight call or a mid-morning hiccup, someone at SiteGround is ready to help. That’s usually our Customer Success team: the frontline experts who keep your digital world running smoothly, with empathy, precision, and deep technical know-how.

Meet Dimitar Vasilev, a Customer Success Representative who constantly helps our clients achieve online success. His dedication has earned him the top spot as ‘Representative of the Month‘ seven times in the past year – an achievement driven entirely by outstanding customer reviews and ratings.

What do you love most about what you do?

With so many positive customer reviews, can you tell us what you think is the secret to making every interaction with a client a positive one?

I have these few “rules” I always remind myself about:

1. Listen to the client. Make sure you understand their request in depth.
2. Make a connection. The more comfortable the customer feels, the better the conversation will go.
3. Keep the customer up to date so that they know that their case is being actively looked at.
4. Be straightforward. Using plain words will allow the other party to better understand the situation.
5. No matter what the case is, stay positive, encourage and acknowledge any win, big or small success. It’s important that customers feel supported and trust our company in the long run.

What 3 qualities does someone in your shoes need to have in order to be good at what they do?

Dedication. Flexibility. Persistence.

What did you wish people knew about your work?

Your funniest client support situation?

I had this one client who, after every single message, would ask, “Are you there?” At first, I reassured them a few times, “Yes, I’m here!”, but eventually, I decided to lean into it and said, “I’ll always be there for you.”

Once we wrapped up the case, I thought I’d help lighten the mood. I asked if they’d like to hear a joke, and they said yes. So I hit them with: “Are you there?”
They laughed, and I even got a marriage proposal. I guess commitment really goes a long way.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Is there anything we didn’t ask, but you wish to add?

I was inside my comfort zone for many years until I met my wife. She has always been my motivation, and thanks to her support, I was able to change my life for the better. I did change the country, my job, plus we have the cutest daughter. My other half always believed in me! If there is someone in your life you deeply care about, let them know, and don’t forget to remind them about it. This encouragement may be all they need – and you yourself, too.

How do you balance work and personal life?

Basically, my priorities are: when working, focus on work, and when I go offline, my focus is my family. From biking to playing computer games (yeah, my wife loves watching me do that), I have different hobbies to help me unwind, and that’s very important in order to be able to do good work after.   

Stay tuned for the next editions of Expert Spotlights, where we introduce you to the people behind SiteGround ‘s technologies.

As we wave goodbye to the passing year, we invite you to take a moment and reveal the amazing transformation of millions of websites, hosted with SiteGround.

See how websites changed in 2023, explore website speed, security, sustainability, and more. View your customized report per website by clicking the Login button on our Website Year In Review page. Here’s a sneak peek of the milestones we achieved together this year. ❤️💪

Faster and Better-Performing Websites

In 2023, an impressive 85% speed boost was experienced by 82% of websites that migrated to SiteGround, thanks to our hosting infrastructure and numerous website optimization technologies. We continued to help clients make their websites faster after hosting with us.

Performance stats were delivered directly to our clients’ inboxes showing them what exactly they could improve on their websites, which led to an average 70% monthly performance score for SiteGround-hosted sites. The expansion of our global data center and CDN network was another milestone we’re proud of as it also contributed to improving the performance and loading speed of clients’ websites.

Even Stronger Website Security

We ensured extra peace of mind for website owners by keeping their sites safe on multiple levels. Every day, our AI brute-force prevention system blocks an average of 670,000,000 harmful requests, and our Spam Protection solution filters 12 million spam emails. We also proactively update our server software when major web threats appear to keep clients’ websites safe.

Thanks to this approach, in 2023, our users remained unaffected by the HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Attack, Exim’s mail vulnerability, and many others. On top of that, our customers achieved a 70% monthly security score on average, following the actionable tips regarding our suite of security tools, received in their monthly reports.

Empowered Small Businesses & Creators

In 2023, we were committed to helping clients not only with quality hosting but with more tools to grow their businesses online. With the launch of the SiteGround Email Marketing tool, we helped them elevate marketing communication easily, with no technical or design skills. Over 7,000 enthusiasts learned how to start their online business in just 30 days with our email course.

Greener Websites & Planet-friendly Initiatives

Minimizing websites’ carbon footprint was another priority for us. We’re happy that in the past 12 months, we provided sustainable hosting and multiple speed-boosting features to our clients that led to 3 times less CO2 emissions of the websites hosted on our platform, compared to the average site.

With the help of our customers and followers, we also planted a forest with 11,400 trees. With our support for the platform Tree Nation, a tree was planted for every single share of our Sustainability Report on social media. Isn’t that amazing!

Thank You for the Recognition!

Along with making clients’ websites greener, faster, and safer, in 2023, we made sure to support our users all the way. Our award-winning Customer Care and Support teams solved over 965,214 website requests this year with an average resolution time of 15 minutes on chat, and 20 minutes on tickets! No wonder they got a bronze Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year after competing with teams from 61 nations.

Our AI assistant also helped deliver detailed information instantly, answering more than 110,000 questions just within the first couple of months since its release in 2023. But for you, the true impact of all these efforts is measured in client feedback. So we couldn’t wait for the results from our annual client survey to start coming in!

For a sixth consecutive year, our annual survey revealed a 98% Client Satisfaction Rate for our overall hosting service. It is based on our customers’ evaluation of our website security services, loading speed, server uptime, customer support, range of tools, additional services, and value for money. Thank you!

It’s an honor to watch your websites grow on our hosting platform – and here is to another year of online success!