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

New roles to help Lancashire firms invest in technology and skills Ltor Mike Connolly Mike Richards Brown Jane Duffy And Tabs Khojani Of Made Smarter North West

New roles to help Lancashire firms invest in technology and skills

24 Aug 2026

2

Breck Homes appoints new head of land for north west Andrew Laing Breck

Breck Homes appoints new head of land for north west

21 Aug 2026

3

Northern Trust secures 10 new strategic land promotion agreements nationwide Promotional Agreements Image

Northern Trust secures 10 new strategic land promotion agreements nationwide

21 Aug 2026

4

Booths receives prestigious Princess Royal Training Award Jack Hewitt Fish Academy Graduate

Booths receives prestigious Princess Royal Training Award

20 Aug 2026

5

North West Mutual bank in Preston opening a step closer Generic Image A Fishergate High Streetpreston

North West Mutual bank in Preston opening a step closer

20 Aug 2026

Blackburn College (July-Aug 26)
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
LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event
LBV130 Magazine Launch Social720No Text 6 17 Sep 2026

LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event

The Beehive Blackburn, Shadsworth Business Park, BB1 2QS

08:30 - 10:30

Built Environment Conference 2026
BEC26 WW Logo720 24 Sep 2026

Built Environment Conference 2026

EG On The Move, Waterside Head Office, Blackburn, BB1 2FA

08:30 - 13:00

All In One Network
LBV Website Events GraphicAll In One Network 15 Oct 2026

All In One Network

The Leisure Box, Northlight, Glen Way, Brierfield , BB9 5NH

14:00 - 16:00

Sub36 Awards 2026
Sub36 WW Logo720 16 Oct 2026

Sub36 Awards 2026

Park Hall Hotel & Spa, Chorley, PR7 5LP

18:30 - 00:30

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event
LBV131 Magazine Launch Social720No Text 19 Nov 2026

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

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

U35 Networking
Lancaster And Morecambe Logo 1 25 Aug 2026

U35 Networking

The Royal Hotel & Bar, Lancaster, LA1 1YD

17:30 - 19:00

Build Your Business To Sell It - Even If You Aren't Planning To Sell - FREE Workshop
LBV Website Events GraphicAction Coach 2 27 Aug 2026

Build Your Business To Sell It - Even If You Aren't Planning To Sell - FREE Workshop

The Wellsprings, Bolton, BL1 1SB

09:00 - 11:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: August
LBV Website Events GraphicFreelancer Meet Up 27 Aug 2026

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: August

Society1, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 12:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – September
Lancaster And Morecambe Logo 1 03 Sep 2026

Chamber Breakfast Networking – September

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

Mediation in the workplace: a practical guide to resolving conflict
LBV Website Events GraphicMediation In The Workplace 08 Sep 2026

Mediation in the workplace: a practical guide to resolving conflict

Online, Preston, PR1 3JG

12:00 - 12:45

Preston Tech Connection Hot Takes
LBV Website Events GraphicHot Takes In Tech 09 Sep 2026

Preston Tech Connection Hot Takes

Society1, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

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 LBV129 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin