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

Bowker Motor Group marketing team wins National BMW and Porsche Awards Amy Lancaster-Hall, Marketing Manager; Freya Hesketh, Marketing & Social Media Executive; Chloe Robinson, Graphic Designer and Ellie Shaw, Social Media Expert

Bowker Motor Group marketing team wins National BMW and Porsche Awards

20 Mar 2026

2

First phase of major Blackpool town centre £17m road upgrade starts Aerial image of Blackpool town centre

First phase of major Blackpool town centre £17m road upgrade starts

20 Mar 2026

3

Breck submits planning for 64-home affordable housing scheme Bolshaw Road layout

Breck submits planning for 64-home affordable housing scheme

20 Mar 2026

4

Barons Contract Furniture announces strategic expansion with major investment in Leyland Barons Furniture expansion

Barons Contract Furniture announces strategic expansion with major investment in Leyland

19 Mar 2026

5

Pleasure Beach Resort urges support for the tourism sector as it launches its 130th season Late night at Pleasure Beach resort

Pleasure Beach Resort urges support for the tourism sector as it launches its 130th season

19 Mar 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
AI & Cybersecurity Summit
AI and Cybersecurity Logo
Summit
28 Apr 2026

AI & Cybersecurity Summit

Dunkenhalgh House , Blackburn Road, Clayton Le Moors, BB5 5JP

08:30 - 11:00

Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements
Sub36 Outdoor Elements Logo1920x1008
Networking
29 Apr 2026

Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements

Outdoor Elements, Pump House Dean Wood, Trapp Lane, Burnley, BB12 7JD

09:00 - 11:00

LBV Magazine Networking Events - SAVE THE DATES
Jan/ Feb Networking Event - Talking
Networking
14 May 2026

LBV Magazine Networking Events - SAVE THE DATES

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

Exploring Debt Finance: Unlocking SME Growth
LCC Event Logos
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Mar 2026

Exploring Debt Finance: Unlocking SME Growth

Farleys Solicitors, 3 Mead Way, Shuttleworth Mead, Padiham, Burnley, BB12 7NG

09:00 - 12:00

The Marketing Meetup Lancashire
TMM Lancs - 27th Jan.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
25 Mar 2026 - 25 Mar 2026

The Marketing Meetup Lancashire

Six Connections, One Slater Terrace, Burnley, BB11 1BU

18:00 - 20:00

Invest in Pendle: A Live Celebration Event
Northlight photograph
LBV Hub
25 Mar 2026

Invest in Pendle: A Live Celebration Event

The Leisure Box, Northlight Mill, Glen Way, Nelson, BB9 5NH

12:00 - 14:00

The Employment Rights Act 2025: What you need to know
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Mar 2026 - 26 Mar 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025: What you need to know

Lancaster & Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 1TZ

08:00 - 10:00

90 Day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Hub Networking
27 Mar 2026 - 27 Mar 2026

90 Day Business Planning Workshop

The Holiday Inn, Bolton, BL1 2EW

09:00 - 16:30

The Ultimate Music Quiz
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
27 Mar 2026 - 27 Mar 2026

The Ultimate Music Quiz

Morecambe Football Club, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 22:30

Lancashire Business Expo 2026
SE, Lancashire 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Exhibitions
27 Mar 2026 - 27 Mar 2026

Lancashire Business Expo 2026

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - a tailored 6 month leadership programme for women across the North West
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Apr 2026 - 15 Apr 2026

RISE - a tailored 6 month leadership programme for women across the North West

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Sickness Absence: key actions for your business
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Apr 2026 - 22 Feb 2026

Sickness Absence: key actions for your business

The Longlands Hotel, Carnforth, LA6 1JH

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