Online reviews are a powerful tool that can boost your venue’s visibility and bring in more guests. Since Google is the go-to search engine, reviews on this platform are a must for any venue wanting to stand out and bring in new visitors. Positive reviews do more than just look good—they build trust and credibility, which helps push your venue higher in search rankings and drive more organic traffic.
Ready to see how Google reviews can make a difference for your venue? Let’s dive into why reviews matter and how technology can take your review game to the next level.
Why Google reviews matter for your venue's organic reach
Google reviews are more than just a form of feedback from your guests—they're a powerful tool for boosting your venue's online visibility. As consumers increasingly rely on online reviews when deciding where to visit, having a strong collection of positive reviews on Google can make a huge difference in how easily guests find your venue.
Google reviews play a big role in getting your venue noticed online. They contribute to your venue ranking higher in local searches and on Google Maps, helping potential guests find you more easily. Ranking refers to where your venue appears in search results when someone searches for keywords like “family fun center near me.” The higher your venue ranks, the more likely potential guests are to click on your listing.
Since Google’s algorithm looks at how many reviews you have, how good they are, and how recent they are, venues with lots of positive, up-to-date reviews are more likely to show up at the top of search results. This means that more good reviews increase your chances of appearing at the top of searches, driving more visitors to your venue without having to rely as much on paid ads.
The importance of quantity, quality, and recency of reviews
Google favors businesses that regularly collect fresh, high-quality reviews. A steady stream of new reviews tells Google that your venue is active and delivering a great guest experience. Not only does this help you rank higher, but it also gives potential visitors more confidence in choosing your venue for their next outing.
The more recent and high-quality reviews you collect, the better your chances of appearing when someone searches for things like "family entertainment center near me" or "best amusement parks." A solid review profile can make your venue stand out in these competitive search results.
How reviews help you attract new customers
Online reviews act as social proof that your venue offers a great guest experience. Studies show that 88% of consumers check reviews before visiting a local business. For your venue, this means that reviews aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential for building trust and credibility with new customers.
Potential customers rely on others' experiences when making decisions
A high rating and positive reviews send a clear message: your venue is worth visiting. In fact, 57% of consumers will only choose businesses with 4 or more stars on Google reviews. This can encourage guests who are on the fence to choose your venue over a competitor.
When guests see detailed, positive reviews highlighting key aspects of your venue—like great customer service, fun attractions, exciting parties, or seamless entry processes—they’re more likely to book a visit. For venues like yours, these detailed, glowing reviews can be the deciding factor for guests looking to book their next adventure or party.
How to respond to negative reviews
If your reviews are on the lower side, it’s not too late to turn things around. Responding thoughtfully by thanking guests for their feedback, acknowledging their concerns, and explaining the steps you’re taking to improve can help transform a negative experience into a positive one. This approach shows that you value guest input and are committed to delivering a better experience. It also builds trust with potential customers, who will see that you’re actively working to enhance your service, even if there have been some past challenges.
How ROLLER’s GX Score boosts your Google reviews
Collecting reviews doesn’t have to be a manual, time-consuming process. With ROLLER’s guest satisfaction feedback software, the GX Score, venues can automate the review collection process, streamlining guest follow-up and ensuring you capture valuable feedback and reviews after each visit.
What does the GX score do?
ROLLER’s GX Score automatically sends surveys to guests shortly after their visit, encouraging them to provide feedback. Once they’ve completed the survey, the GX Score prompts guests to leave a review on platforms like Google or TripAdvisor. This increases the volume of reviews while providing valuable insights that help improve your guest experience.
Read more: How the GX Score is different from typical survey tools
Benefits of automating the review collection process
By automating this process, venues can:
- Save time by reducing the need for manual follow-ups
- Increase review volume by ensuring every guest has the opportunity to leave feedback
- Improve the quality of feedback, as guests are prompted immediately after their visit
Read more: Find new guests without lifting a finger using our automated GX Score tool
Case study 1: GC Wake Park and GC Aqua Park’s 567% increase in Google reviews
GC Wake Park and GC Aqua Park – two industry-leading venues for water-based entertainment in Australia – are a great example of how the GX Score can drastically increase online reviews. By using ROLLER’s GX Score tool, the water parks grew their Google reviews from 600 to 4,000 in just 12 months—a 567% increase!
The dramatic increase in reviews didn’t just boost their online presence—it also allowed them to rely less on paid ads. With more organic traffic driven by their strong review profile, GC Wake Park and GC Aqua Park saw an increase in clicks while decreasing ad spend.
Now that we've got so many reviews on Google, our ad spend is decreasing, and our clicks are increasing.
Daniel Watkins
Owner, GC Wake Park and GC Aqua Park
Case study 2: TreeClimb’s surge in organic traffic from reviews
TreeClimb adventure parks also saw remarkable success using the GX Score tool. In just 12 months, one of their venues garnered nearly 1,700 Google reviews with an impressive 4.8-star rating. Their newer venue, which has been open for just 12 months, already has between 400-500 reviews.
According to Jake Cunningham, Group Digital Marketing Manager at TreeClimb, the GX Score’s ability to prompt guests to leave reviews has significantly increased their online presence.
The GX Score is why we have such a high level of organic traffic and why our SEO ranking is so high. Sales have increased because the business has a better online presence.
Jake Cunningham
Group Digital Marketing Manager, TreeClimb
The long-term impact of growing your Google reviews
Collecting more reviews doesn’t just improve your search ranking—it creates a snowball effect that leads to more clicks, more visitors, and ultimately more sales. Making reviews a key part of your long-term marketing strategy is one of the most sustainable ways to grow your venue. Not only do they increase your venue's visibility, but they also help build trust with potential guests, encouraging them to choose your venue over competitors.
With ROLLER’s GX Score, you can effortlessly collect more reviews, strengthen your online presence, and attract more guests. By automating guest feedback and review collection, ROLLER helps you unlock the full potential of Google reviews to drive traffic and ensure long-term growth.
Ready to see how ROLLER can help you drive more reviews and grow your business? Book a demo today!
