The Times Australia
Small Business News

.

Squerb offers much more useful opinion feedback

  • Written by Jane Stabler


WHEN YOU NEED MORE THAN A LIKE

Online feedback is broken. We all have heartfelt feedback to give about many subjects, and the social nature of media today means that while there are multiple outlets for our opinions, there are few quality ways to express or easily measure what we feel individually or collectively. From having to ‘like’ a sad or negative post on Facebook, to trolling on the comments section, online feedback is either one dimensional (what does 3 Stars about a book or movie even mean?), or the domain of keyboard warriors with few constructive things to say – neither of which tells the end viewer very much. Online feedback is indeed broken, and this problem of easily expressing and capturing meaningful online opinions is precisely what captured the imagination of Squerb Founder Chris Biscoe over 5 years ago.

Squerb is a suite of online tools that allow users to easily and instantly provide feedback through a range of emotions, about pretty much any subject, using just a few clicks or taps. Squerb’s intuitive visual interface not only encourages more intelligent expression, but also provides instant insight for the content owners.

Measuring what users think and feel about any online topic is becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating for marketers and brands. While thousands may have liked a post or given thumbs-up to an image, what about it really spoke to them? And trying to decipher what people really feel from hundreds of combative interactions in comments sections is likely to leave even the most seasoned market researcher frustrated and disillusioned.

“We’re really missing something fundamental when we ask limiting questions such as ‘do you like this?’” says Chris. “You’re simply not imparting or gaining a whole lot of information. Whilst there are millions of countable likes, retweets and shares, there is little insight into the rationale behind the sentiment. And today’s open ended environment for comments has also lead to a trolling epidemic that doesn’t appear particularly useful for anyone – in fact, it’s become confrontational and sometimes even threatening.”

For content creators and brands, Squerb offers much more useful opinion feedback than traditional rating systems. In addition to seeing how popular an article, film, or product is, Squerb allows you see instantly see what people did or didn’t like about pretty much anything, and why, while graphing those opinions real-time.

Squerb first launched as a beta prototype at SXSW last year, and has been operating in sort of skunk-works while perfecting its social feedback mechanism and developing tools for businesses to leverage Squerb on their own sites.   These tools also include the ability to share Squerb opinions to Twitter and Facebook through IOS, desktop and mobile browsers.

“Each person’s feedback is valuable,” says Chris, “and it’s clear that if we can better quantify our opinions, that feedback is even more valuable. What’s clearly missing from existing online feedback is the ‘why?’, and we think Squerb goes a long way to solving that problem while also creating a forum for sharing opinions and feedback that removes the rancor that comments sections too often create.”

Property Times

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by respected private hotelier John Azar, the Good Beer Company has a proven t...

Top Tips for Finding the Ideal Block to Build Your Home

There’s something deeply personal and exciting about building your own home. You’re not just choosing paint colours or furniture, you’re creating a space that reflects your lifestyle, your dreams, and your future. However, before you start sketchin...

The Home Buying Process Explained Step by Step

Buying a home is a thrilling milestone, but it can also feel like navigating a maze without a map. With paperwork, finances, and decisions at every turn, understanding the home-buying process is crucial for success. Whether you're a first-time buye...

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Selling a home is more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign. It’s a strategic process that involves preparation, pricing, and negotiation - all aimed at getting the best value for your property. Let’s go through the most important steps to take b...

Food & Dining

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banquets to Sydney’s first-ever Acquapole fitness classes and family fun gal...

Onsite Caterer vs a Full Service Venue: 9 important things to explore

Choosing between an external catering company and an all-inclusive venue is a major decision that affects cost, flexibility, food quality, and the overall event experience. Venues with in-house catering offer convenience and streamlined coordinatio...

Meal Prep as Self-Care? The One Small Habit That Could Improve Your Mood, Focus & Confidence

What if the secret to feeling calmer, more focused, and emotionally resilient wasn’t found in a supplement or self-help book — but in your fridge? That’s the surprising link uncovered by leading dietitians Anna Debenham and Alex Parker from The Biti...

Cult Favourite, TokyoTaco, Opens Beachfront at Mooloolaba this June

FREE Tokyo Tacos to Celebrate!  Cult favourite Japanese-Mexican restaurant TokyoTaco is opening a beachfront venue at the Mooloolaba Esplanade on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast this June.  The doors of the new venue will open on 18 June and to cel...

Business Times

Navigating Leadership Mistakes with Confidence

I am always surprised by this question: How do leaders get over embarrassing mistakes and still succeed? The use of the w...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer exp...

Agentforce for Financial Services: Merging AI and Human Expertise…

In this rapidly evolving world of financial services, deploying customer experiences that are personalized and intelligen...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...