Why Your Google Star Rating Matters More Than Ever in AI Mode

Google’s new AI Mode is changing how people search — and more importantly, which businesses they see first.

While the rollout is still evolving, early testing suggests that AI Mode is prioritizing Google Business Profiles (GBPs) with star ratings of 4.9 or higher for high-intent searches like:

“Top custom integration marketing company in Florida” (Spoiler: One Firefly shows up — and it’s no accident.)

Here’s what integrators need to know 👇

📌 What Is Google AI Mode?

• A new AI-powered search experience from Google, powered by Gemini 2.5

• Launched in the U.S. and India in June 2025

• Uses advanced reasoning to pull info from multiple sources (not just 10 blue links)

• Designed to generate fast, conversational answers to user queries

⭐ Why Reviews Are More Important Than Ever

Google AI Mode favors businesses with strong reputations, especially GBPs with 4.9+ star ratings.

If your rating is below that? You might not show up at all.

✅ 80% of people read reviews before choosing a local business ✅ Businesses with 25+ recent reviews generate 108% more revenue ✅ 56% of consumers say a business’s replies to reviews affect their opinion

(Source: ReviewsonMyWebsite, Sixth City Marketing)

🔧 How to Improve Your GBP Rating & Visibility

• Ask consistently. Build review requests into your project closeout process.

• Make it easy. Use tools like Review Champ to automate invites and reminders.

• Respond to everything. Show customers (and Google) that you’re engaged.

• Avoid fake reviews. Authenticity wins, and Google’s cracking down on spam.

💡 From the Experts

“Dealers who commit to a smart review strategy—and use tools like Review Champ to automate the process—see real results in AI search.” — Katie Frogge, Lead Account Manager & Product Owner, Review Champ

Want to dive deeper? Read the full blog on our website →