Search Optimization Intern SEO & GEO - Summer 2027

Inspire; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Job summary

Inspire offers a 10-week SEO/GEO Intern position designed to give hands-on experience across technical SEO, content optimization, and local-search strategies for Inspire Brands’ restaurant portfolio.

You will collaborate with the SEO/GEO team and partners across Digital, Brand, Marketing, Content, Analytics, and Technology to translate findings into actionable recommendations and a prioritized roadmap. The internship emphasizes practical audits and a repeatable framework.

Qualifications

• Currently a rising junior or senior pursuing a four year degree in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Business, Communications, Advertising, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Conduct technical SEO audits focusing on crawlability, indexation, schema markup, internal linking, and on-page optimization.
• Review content and location-page data to improve visibility across organic and AI-powered search experiences.
• Evaluate local business listings for accuracy, imagery, attributes, and consistency with location pages.
• Use SEO, analytics, local-listing, and AI-search tools to investigate questions and document findings.
• Develop a prioritized backlog of opportunities based on impact and effort.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Digital, Brand, Marketing, Content, Analytics, and Technology.
• Translate research into clear recommendations and a final presentation.
• Create a repeatable audit framework and documentation for ongoing opportunities.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Written & verbal communication

Synthesis & recommendations

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Self-directed learning

Excel proficiency

Education

Pursuing a 4-year degree in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Business, Communications, Advertising, or related field

Tools

Google Analytics 4

Google Search Console

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Grow Your Career with Inspire

We believe the restaurant industry is one of America's best places not only for a first job, but for a meaningful career. As an SEO/GEO Intern, you will gain hands-on experience helping Inspire Brands improve how its restaurant brands and locations are discovered across traditional search engines, local search platforms, and AI-powered search experiences.

During this 10-week internship, you will support an SEO/GEO Site and Local Optimization Audit across Inspire’s portfolio of restaurant brands. You will evaluate technical, content, and local-search opportunities, translate your findings into actionable recommendations, and help create a repeatable audit framework that the team can use after the internship.

You will gain exposure to enterprise search engine optimization, or SEO, generative engine optimization, or GEO, local search, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to work supporting iconic restaurant brands, including Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC Drive-In.

What You'll Do

• Conduct technical SEO audits focused on crawlability, indexation, schema markup, internal linking, and on-page optimization.
• Review priority website and restaurant location-page content to identify content gaps and opportunities to improve visibility across organic and AI-powered search experiences.
• Evaluate local business listings and restaurant data for accuracy, completeness, imagery, key business attributes, and consistency with location pages.
• Use available SEO, analytics, local-listing, and AI-search measurement tools to investigate performance questions and document findings.
• Conduct competitive and search-results research to identify emerging search behaviors, content patterns, and opportunities for Inspire’s brands.
• Organize findings into a prioritized opportunity backlog based on anticipated impact, level of effort, and scalability across brands.
• Collaborate with SEO/GEO team members and cross-functional partners across Digital, Brand, Marketing, Content, Analytics, and Technology.
• Translate research and audit findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Develop a final presentation summarizing key findings, recommended next steps, and a prioritized roadmap of SEO/GEO opportunities.
• Create a repeatable audit framework and supporting documentation that the team can use to identify and monitor future opportunities.

What You'll Gain

• Conducting technical, content, and local-search audits.
• Understanding how organic, local, and AI-powered search visibility intersect across the customer journey.
• Exploring how AI search platforms and models differ and how search-algorithm changes can influence brand and location discovery.
• Managing and evaluating business listings across platforms such as Google and Apple.
• Understanding how accurate local data, relevant content, and site optimization influence search visibility.
• Analyzing information and translating findings into business recommendations.
• Collaborating with partners across Digital, Brand, Marketing, Content, Analytics, and Technology.
• Presenting findings and recommendations to business leaders.

You will complete the internship with a documented and prioritized roadmap of actionable SEO/GEO opportunities, along with a repeatable process for identifying and monitoring technical, content, and local-search opportunities across Inspire’s brands.

Academically You Are

• Currently a rising junior or senior pursuing a four year degree in Marketing, Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Business, Communications, Advertising, or a related field.

Experience & Exposure

Previous professional experience is not required.

Coursework, internships, student projects, or other relevant experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:

• Artificial intelligence for business or marketing
• Data analytics or consumer insights
• Digital strategy or digital marketing
• Search engine optimization
• Generative engine optimization
• Content strategy
• Website analytics
• Local search
• E-commerce
• Business analysis

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strong analytical, research, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize findings, identify patterns, and translate analysis into clear recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and prioritize competing projects and deliverables.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within a cross-functional team.
• A curious, motivated, and self-directed approach to learning and problem-solving.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Interest in learning tools such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics 4, SEO crawling platforms, local-listing platforms, and AI-search visibility tools.
• Interest in technical SEO, content optimization, local search, analytics, and generative engine optimization.

Exposure To The Following Is Preferred But Not Required

• SEO concepts such as crawlability, indexation, structured data and schema markup, internal linking, keyword research, and on-page optimization.
• Website analytics, data visualization, content management systems, or local business listings.
• Microsoft Copilot, Power BI, or similar analytics and productivity tools.

Management and Mentorship

You will be managed by the Senior Manager, Organic Search, SEO & GEO, with the potential for additional day-to-day mentorship from another manager on the SEO/GEO team.

About The Summer Internship Program

Our 10-week paid summer internship program is designed to help you apply your classroom learning to real business challenges while building professional skills and industry experience.

In addition to your day-to-day work on the team, you'll have opportunities to:

• Engage with Inspire leaders through executive speaker sessions and career conversations.
• Collaborate with fellow interns on a cross-functional business challenge and present recommendations to leaders.
• Participate in community service activities that support our commitment to being good citizens.
• Build relationships with interns and professionals across departments and brands.
• Develop business acumen, presentation skills, and a deeper understanding of how corporate functions support organizational success.

By the end of the summer, you'll have gained meaningful experience, expanded your professional network, strengthened your business knowledge, and developed greater confidence in your ability to contribute in a corporate environment.