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Web Content & AI Search Optimization Intern

Backroads
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About the Marketing Department: 

The Backroads Marketing team is powered by strong collaborators, visionaries and creative minds who bring decades of knowledge and experience to showcase the fun-filled seamless adventures our guests love. You’ll be bringing your imagination, strong work ethic and critical eye for detail to a dedicated group of team members who are passionate about sharing the joys of active travel with both returning guests and brand-new audiences. 

The department is comprised of several teams, which include the below: 

  • Direct Mail & CRM: Engages past and prospective guests through targeted email campaigns and personalized direct mail, leveraging data to drive bookings and loyalty.  
  • PR & Partnership: Builds brand awareness and credibility through media outreach, strategic partnerships and influencer collaborations to expand Backroads’ reach.  
  • Website Management: Oversees the website’s content, functionality and user experience to ensure seamless navigation, accurate information and optimized conversion.  
  • Brand, Content, Community: Responsible for the creative design, content and social media presence for the Backroads brand.  
     

By joining the Marketing team at Backroads, you’ll be part of a group that values building innovative people processes and fostering a positive, inclusive employee experience. 

 

About the Role:

The Web Content & AI Search Optimization Intern will support the Backroads Web & Content teams, advancing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and emerging AI Engine Optimization (AEO) strategies. As search behavior continues to evolve through AI-powered discovery tools, this role will help ensure Backroads content is structured, optimized and discoverable across both traditional search engines and AI-driven experiences.

In this role, you will work closely with Web, Content and other Marketing stakeholders to help optimize trip pages, blog content and topic-specific site experiences. You’ll assist with identifying opportunities to improve topical coverage, implement structured enhancements such as FAQs, and ensure content aligns with best practices for SEO and AEO. You’ll also support blog publishing workflows and play a key role in improving our image optimization process by managing assets within our Digital Asset Management (DAM) system.

This internship offers hands-on experience working on a high-traffic, content-rich travel website, exposure to modern SEO and AI-search strategies, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to how travelers discover Backroads online.

 

What You’ll be Doing:

  • Support execution of Backroads’ SEO and AI Engine Optimization (AEO) strategy across the website
  • Assist with identifying and implementing AEO tactics, such as:
  • Adding and optimizing destination/trip-specific FAQs on Trip Pages
  • Ensuring Trip Pages are well-structured around priority topics
  • Helping assess content gaps and opportunities to strengthen topical authority
  • Help publish and update blog content in the CMS, ensuring posts are optimized for SEO and AEO best practices
  • Conduct on-page SEO optimizations, including metadata, headings, internal linking and content formatting
  • Collaborate with the Web team to QA live pages and ensure content accuracy and consistency
  • Support image optimization workflows by:
  • Uploading and organizing images in the Digital Asset Management (DAM) system
  • Ensuring images meet naming, sizing and metadata standards
  • Helping maintain image quality, organization and accessibility
  • Assist with documentation and tracking of optimization tasks and progress using spreadsheets or project tools
  • Learn and apply SEO/AEO best practices in a real-world, high-impact environment

 

What You’ll Need to be Successful: 

  • Currently enrolled at an accredited university or college
  • Strong interest in SEO, content optimization, AI-powered search or digital marketing
  • Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational skills
  • Ability to learn new tools, systems and concepts quickly
  • Clear written communication skills and comfort working with content
  • Proactive mindset with the ability to take initiative and ask thoughtful questions
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Comfort working both independently and collaboratively with a team
  • Familiarity with spreadsheets and basic productivity tools (Excel, Google Sheets or similar)
  • Bonus (not required):
  • Exposure to SEO concepts, CMS platforms or digital asset management systems
  • Interest in travel, outdoor adventure or the Backroads brand and mission

 

Work Environment: 

  • On-Site, Berkeley, CA
  • 4 days in-office, 1 day work from home
  • Full time, 40 hours per week
  • Summer internship from early May - mid August

 

Interview Process: 

  • Recruiter Screen (30-minutes)
  • Hiring Manager Video Interview (30-minutes)
  • Department or Team Lead Video Interview (15-20 minutes)