Xero and Vend's classic YouTube clips

If Vaughan Rowsell wasn't running one of NZ's most successful software startups, he could be an extra in Flight of the Conchords.

His company's promo videos on YouTube have that kind of uniquely Kiwi, laconic humour.

Take this one on a new customer loyalty feature.

Or this earthier effort, "POS [point-of-sale] doesn't have to be a piece of sh*t":

It's less try-hard and more approachable than a certain airline's viral videos.

Then there's Xero's classic David Attenborough homage:

I'm not sure how the buckets of quirky will be received in the quirky US market, but it's easy to see the clips helping with the word-of-mouth and social media buzz that forms part of each company's marketing strategy.

Xero's also making clips that are overtly aimed the US market, and it's interesting to see the Kiwi-developed software presented in an Americanised fashion:

Both companies are also making good use of YouTube for product explainers.

And Vend - which is emerging as something of a trailblazer in using new media and social media for hiring - also has a couple of great recruiting clips, such as this one:

And others which, I guess, just help build brand personality as well as gettng new bodies through the door (Vend is in the process of hiring 100 more staff):