StrategiQ boosts security, SEO, and engagement for DSWF

A WP Engine migration and site redesign helped DSWF resolve SEO penalties and grow engagement and donations.

  • 44%

    increase in average engagement time

  • 8

    positions gained for one target keyword

David Shepherd Wildlife home page screen shot

Client ProfileConservation nonprofit modernizes its digital presence

Client Site
davidshepherd.org (opens in a new tab)
Industry
Nonprofit

Founded in 1984 by David Shepherd, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) fights wildlife crime and protects endangered species across Africa and Asia through community conservation partnerships.

  • The ChallengeOutdated site held back growth

    DSWF needed to grow visibility and revenue, but a plugin-heavy, unmanaged WordPress site brought performance issues, mobile usability problems, and Google SEO penalties hurt organic traffic.

  • The SolutionA rebuilt, managed foundation

    StrategiQ migrated DSWF to WP Engine’s managed platform and built a bespoke, mobile-first WordPress theme powered by ACF Blocks to cut reliance on over 70 legacy plugins. To drive revenue and engagement, the team implemented a new SEO content architecture, engineered custom Vue.js apps for animal adoptions and donations, and integrated friction-free payment methods including GoCardless and Apple Pay.

ResultsRestored organic traffic

The rebuilt site resolved DSWF’s Google SEO penalties and restored organic traffic — one target keyword moved from position 12 to 4. Engagement rose sharply after launch, and early SEO gains contributed to organic-revenue growth supporting a 25% year-over-year donation target. Faster load times and smoother payments also improved the visitor experience site-wide.

The project also earned StrategiQ a WP Engine Agency Partner Award for “Committed to Give Back,” recognizing the agency’s dedication to creating impactful digital experiences that advance nonprofit missions and drive meaningful conservation efforts.

  • 70

    legacy plugins removed

  • Winner

    of WP Engine Agency Partner Award

We are really pleased with the end result, and are already seeing significant SEO improvement and website income growth after just a few months.

Roddy Hamblin COO, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

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