Research you can see, hear, and feel
Numbers tell you what. Video tells you everything else. By embedding short consumer video responses directly into surveys, we capture the spontaneous reactions, facial expressions, and emotional cues that data alone can never fully reveal.
About the service
What is Video Research?
Video Research is the practice of capturing short, self-recorded consumer responses as part of a research study - inside a survey, alongside a product test, or as a stand-alone feedback layer. It gives you what written answers cannot: the hesitation before a sentence, the smile when a pack lands well, the frustration when an app does not behave.
At Haystack, we believe that some of the richest insights come not just from what people say, but from how they say it. Video brings authenticity and humanity to the numbers, and it makes the people behind your data impossible to ignore.
Emotion where you need it most
A written open-end tells you what a consumer thinks. A video tells you how they feel it. Tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions add a layer of depth that transforms a finding into a story - one your stakeholders will actually remember.
Lightweight. Scalable. Powerful.
Video feedback integrates seamlessly into quantitative surveys - no separate recruitment, no additional fieldwork. Respondents record directly on their phone or laptop, in their own context, at their own pace. The result is spontaneous, unfiltered, and instantly usable.
Why Video Research Matters
In a world where stakeholders are overloaded with charts and slides, video cuts through. It shifts attention from passive reading to genuine engagement, and it makes decisions easier, because the consumer voice is right there in the room.
Go beyond stated opinion. Video captures spontaneous, unfiltered reactions the moment they happen - revealing the emotional truth behind a preference, a hesitation, or a choice.
Bring your consumer to life for every team in your organisation. Video clips travel further than reports - they inspire creative briefings, sharpen internal alignment, and make the human case for strategic decisions.
Test how ideas, concepts, and products land in the real world - before you commit. Video shows you not just whether something works, but why it resonates or where it falls short, in consumers' own words and on their own faces.
Start seeing what your consumers really feel
At Haystack Consulting, video research is designed for meaning, not just footage. Every clip is collected, analysed, and translated into insight you can act on.
Ideal Partner
Why partner with Haystack Consulting for Video Research
We have been listening to consumers since 1974. Adding video to that expertise is not a gimmick, it is a natural extension of our belief that real understanding requires more than numbers.
Our researchers know how to design the right video question, for the right moment, in the right study. We do not add video for the sake of it. We use it where it genuinely adds depth: early-stage concept reactions, sensitive topics, product handling, and any moment where emotion matters as much as opinion.
And because we never let AI do the work alone, every video response is reviewed and interpreted by a human researcher. Our AI-powered analysis platform processes large volumes of recordings at speed - flagging themes, sentiments, and key moments - but it is always our team that draws the insight, tells the story, and shapes the recommendation.
Unique process
Built for depth, designed for ease
Adding video to your research should feel effortless, for you and for your respondents. We handle the design, the integration, the analysis, and the storytelling. You get insight that is richer, more human, and more persuasive.
Seamlessly embedded
Video questions are integrated directly into your survey - no separate platform, no extra recruitment, no added complexity for the respondent. A simple prompt, a short recording, and you have footage that brings your data to life. Respondents record on their own device, in their own environment, at the moment that matters most.
From footage to story
Our AI-powered analysis platform processes video responses at scale - transcribing, coding, and surfacing key themes and emotional patterns across hundreds of clips. Our researchers then take those signals and turn them into clear, compelling narratives: the kind that make boardrooms lean in and creative teams ask better questions.
Brand aligned
A partner who keeps the human picture in view
We see video as a tool for empathy, not just efficiency. Every frame is a window into a real person's life, and we treat it that way. We see video as a tool for empathy, not just efficiency. Because behind every clip is a real person in a real moment, and that is exactly where great insight begins.
Hybrid precision
Emotion where you need it most
A written open-end tells you what a consumer thinks. A video tells you how they feel it. Tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions add a layer of depth that transforms a finding into a story - one your stakeholders will actually remember.
Scientific foundation
Every video study is designed with a clear research objective, validated question structure, and quality control throughout - from recording to reporting.
Tailored to your brand
We embed video where it genuinely adds value in your study - not everywhere, not as a default. Only where it makes the insight sharper.
Ethically designed
Respondents participate on their own terms, in their own space. Full consent, full transparency, and full GDPR compliance - always.
How we bring video research to life
From study design to final debrief, we manage every step - so you get depth without complexity.
Align
Define where video adds the most value in your study, what you want to capture, and how it connects to your business question.
Collect
Respondents record short video responses on their own device - spontaneous, in-context, and unfiltered.
Activate
We deliver the insight as a story: a curated video montage, a narrative report, or a workshop-ready debrief that makes your consumer impossible to ignore.
Design
We craft the right video prompts, integrate them into your survey, and brief the team on what to look for in the footage.
Analyse
Our AI platform processes the footage at scale. Transcription, sentiment detection, and theme coding - fast, consistent, and always human-reviewed.
Scientific foundation
We craft the right video prompts, integrate them into your survey, and brief the team on what to look for in the footage.
Scientific foundation
Every video study is designed with a clear research objective, validated question structure, and quality control throughout - from recording to reporting.
Collect
Respondents record short video responses on their own device - spontaneous, in-context, and unfiltered.
Analyse
Our AI platform processes the footage at scale. Transcription, sentiment detection, and theme coding - fast, consistent, and always human-reviewed.
Activate
We deliver the insight as a story: a curated video montage, a narrative report, or a workshop-ready debrief that makes your consumer impossible to ignore.
Don’t just take our word for it
"Great team to work with. Always innovating research agency for sensorial research!"
"Haystack brainstorms with us as a partner to create challenging, innovative, and custom-made projects."
"We have great professional experience with Haystack! They are reliable, dynamic, pleasant and highly flexible. They are specialised in sensory research among others."
"Haystack has a critical approach embedded in their company culture and methodologies. That is why we prefer to work with Haystack."
Ready to shape your video research story?
The most compelling consumer insight is the kind you can see and hear. If you are ready to explore how video feedback can bring depth, emotion, and authenticity to your next study, our team would love to connect.
Frequently asked questions
Video research is a powerful addition to any study - and one that raises practical questions. Here are the ones we hear most often.
Start your video research journey today
The way we understand consumers goes far beyond what they write in a text box. With Haystack Consulting's video research, you can capture emotion, surface nuance, and bring authentic consumer stories into your boardroom, at the speed and scale your business needs.
If you are ready to see how video feedback can make your next study sharper, richer, and more persuasive, our team is here to help.
