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

Strong results in first year as EOT for Conlon Construction Conlon board includes Andrew Makinson, Lee Parry, Nadine Ng, Darren Lee, and chairman Guy Parker

Strong results in first year as EOT for Conlon Construction

30 Apr 2026

2

Lancashire manufacturers backed to adopt AI with new Made Smarter toolkit ELE Advanced Technologies

Lancashire manufacturers backed to adopt AI with new Made Smarter toolkit

30 Apr 2026

3

Experts stress the urgency of starting AI journey Speakers at the Cybersecurity summit

Experts stress the urgency of starting AI journey

30 Apr 2026

4

Plans approved for Lancashire's tallest residential block Altura Preston

Plans approved for Lancashire's tallest residential block

29 Apr 2026

5

Wilson Mason Architects achieves Investors in People Gold accreditation Eleanor Wood

Wilson Mason Architects achieves Investors in People Gold accreditation

29 Apr 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
LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event
Canva - Mag Launch
Networking
19 May 2026

LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event

Colne Market Hall, Lancashire, BB8 0HS

08:30 - 10:30

Funding Summit
Funding Logo Canva Mid
Summit
17 Jun 2026 - 17 Jun 2026

Funding Summit

Village Hotel Blackpool

08:30 - 11:00

Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026
Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026
LBV Hub Social
01 May 2026

Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival 2026

BB1 8NB

17:00 - 23:00

Society1 Open Coworking Day
LBV Hub Networking
06 May 2026 - 06 May 2026

Society1 Open Coworking Day

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 16:00

The AI Lab: E-commerce
LBV Hub Seminars
08 May 2026 - 08 May 2026

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Emergency First Aid at Work
LBV Hub Seminars
08 May 2026 - 08 May 2026

Emergency First Aid at Work

FGH Training, 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Fire Warden Training
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
11 May 2026 - 11 May 2026

Fire Warden Training

Bell Lancaster, Cleveley House Farm, Miller Brow, , Forton, PR3 1DR

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
14 May 2026 - 14 May 2026

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Longridge House, Preston, PR3 2TB

11:30 - 14:15

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026
Spark 2026 newsletter v3-5 (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
18 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026

University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

10:00 - 20:00

Culture, Community & Commerce in the City # 1 - Northern Dough Co x WASH Studio
8.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 May 2026 - 20 May 2026

Culture, Community & Commerce in the City # 1 - Northern Dough Co x WASH Studio

SOciety1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

How to handle an underperforming employee
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
20 May 2026 - 20 May 2026

How to handle an underperforming employee

The Longlands Hotel, Carnforth, LA6 1JH

08:00 - 10:00

Stop Underselling, price for profit, not just survival
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 May 2026 - 21 May 2026

Stop Underselling, price for profit, not just survival

Lancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TZ

08:00 - 10:00

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 LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin