Why Cadbury's #DonateYourWords campaign sets the marketing standard

By Stone Create Ltd

29 Nov 2019

donate-your-words-cadbury-01.png

The modern world is full of advertising. It's everywhere you look.

So much so that it’s thought we often see up to 5000 ads every day.

You might be surprised by that number. We were when we first read it.

You certainly won’t remember seeing 5000. You probably don’t remember seeing 10.

But the 10 or so you do remember have hit a spot. They’ve done something that makes you remember them.

Cadbury’s latest campaign, Donate Your Words, was one that hit a spot with us. So much so that we’ve written an article about it.

Watch it below.

The Donate Your Words campaign was designed to draw an emotional response from you.

Cadbury’s have collaborated with Age UK to support the donate your words movement.

It definitely makes you think and the statistics they use are powerful too.

Cadbury’s want to shock you into action. That’s the main reason for using emotional content.

How to use emotions in marketing (short introduction)

When the audience connect with an advert emotionally, it’s going to have a more profound effect.

Because emotions can cause humans to take action.

Emotional content also has a much higher chance of going viral. People share emotional things and the more shares your content gets the better.

Certain emotions work better than others though. The Donate Your Words campaign was designed with this in mind.

Take a look at the graphic below:

The Donate Your Words advert aims to shock you. Because this is an emotion more likely to make you make a change.

The emotions you need to aim for are high arousal. These emotions drive people to take action.

That action is what you’re aiming for.

Read more on using emotion in your content here.

Donate Your Words Means Taking Action

The Cadbury’s advert will drive people to take action regarding the Donate Your Words movement.

When people come to help, Cadbury’s will be top of mind because of the advert and the marketing driving it.

Image from Huffington Post.

This is the packaging they have released to run as part of the Donate Your Words campaign.

It’s distinctive and catches the eye as you’re not used to seeing this from them. And it looks really good.

Its simplicity draws you in.

Cadbury have taken over some of Age UK’s charity shops too.

And they’ve completely flipped the shops’ pricing system.

During their takeover, to buy an item at the shops, instead of paying a monetary fee, you simply have to commit to reaching out to an older person in some way.

It could be simply saying hello at the bus stop.

Or making a call to an elderly relative.

One example of what an item cost during the campaign.

It’s a brilliant example of marketing and how to use emotion to do it.

And the fact that it’s for a great cause adds to the brilliance.

To learn more about the Donate Your Words campaign, use this link.

Latest news

1

Howden to sponsor Red Rose Transformation Award Red Rose Awards

Howden to sponsor Red Rose Transformation Award

09 Nov 2026

2

Work starts on £8bn Typhoon contract Typhoon1

Work starts on £8bn Typhoon contract

09 Nov 2026

3

Sustainable Investments Group sells minority stake Will Munday 1

Sustainable Investments Group sells minority stake

09 Nov 2026

4

Planning consultants De Pol in office relocation 20261109 De Pol Associates

Planning consultants De Pol in office relocation

09 Nov 2026

5

Lancashire Leaders: Dr Michele Lawty-Jones - the power of skills Michele Lawty- Jones Sep-Oct

Lancashire Leaders: Dr Michele Lawty-Jones - the power of skills

09 Nov 2026

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event
LBV131 Magazine Launch Social720No Text 19 Nov 2026

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event

The Landmark, School Lane, Burnley, BB11 1UF

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Business Day 2026
LBD26 WW Logo720 27 Nov 2026

Lancashire Business Day 2026

Burnley Football Club, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Sub36 Reunion & Networking
03 Dec 2026

Sub36 Reunion & Networking

Burnley Football Club, BB10 4BX

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Conference 2027
NZC27 Social 1200x800Generic 1 11 Feb 2027

Lancashire Net Zero Conference 2027

The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth, Wheatsheaf Hill Farm, Plantation Road, BL7 0BY

09:30 - 02:00

Help to Grow: Management Course
Help To Grow 25 Sep 2026 - 15 Dec 2026

Help to Grow: Management Course

University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:30 - 12:00

National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) Compliance
Untitled design (11).png.png 10 Nov 2026

National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) Compliance

Online - Microsoft Teams

11:00 - 11:45

Immigration changes on the horizon - what HR teams need to know
Immigration webinar.png.png 10 Nov 2026

Immigration changes on the horizon - what HR teams need to know

Online, via Microsoft Teams

12:00 - 12:45

Preston Tech Connection: People Behind The Ideas
11 Nov 2026

Preston Tech Connection: People Behind The Ideas

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:03

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
12 Nov 2026

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Longridge House, Preston, PR3 2TB

11:30 - 14:15

Ai in business: protect, innovate & grow
Door4 Forbes 12 Nov 2026

Ai in business: protect, innovate & grow

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston, PR5 0AG

09:00 - 12:00

Napthens' Cumbria Clay Shoot - for Penny Conservation Charity
N123_1200x400px_Title&Subtitle (1).png.png 12 Nov 2026

Napthens' Cumbria Clay Shoot - for Penny Conservation Charity

Leighton Hall Estate Storrs Lane, Carnforth, LA5 9ST

09:00 - 16:00

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancaster And Morecambe Logo 1 18 Nov 2026

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

09:00 - 13:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV130 Online GraphicWebsite
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin