EVERYONE can have fun with social media!

At Gadd Marketing, we’re constantly on the lookout for clever, creative campaigns, the ones that stop us in our scroll and make us say “Oooh, that’s good!!”. Because in a world where we’re bombarded by content, it takes something special to stand out.

Recently, a campaign from the NHS caught our attention and not in the way you'd expect. Known for their typically straight-talking, no-frills communication style, the NHS surprised everyone by jumping on the announcement of Harry Styles' new album with a post about cervical screening. Yep, you read that right, Harry Styles and cervical screening in the same sentence. Genius.

What made it so great? It was unexpected, relevant and strategic. The target demographic for cervical screenings (women aged 25–64) overlaps heavily with a large portion of Harry’s fanbase. So, by aligning the campaign with something pop culture–driven and universally exciting, the NHS took a serious message and placed it in a context that felt relatable, timely and engaging.

This is a brilliant example of meeting your audience where they are, especially younger women who may otherwise disengage from traditional public health messaging. It’s a move that says: “We’re listening, we get it and we care.” And that’s powerful.

Another campaign that made us grin came from a classic brand rivalry moment this time, Pepsi taking a cheeky swipe at its long-standing competitor, Coca-Cola. In a New Year’s campaign with the strapline “New Year, New You? You’ve already made progress,” Pepsi wittily implied that just choosing their drink over Coke was a win for self-improvement. Bold? Yes. Petty? Maybe. Memorable? 100%.

It’s tongue-in-cheek, playful and taps into the over-saturated "New Year, New Me" trend in a way that feels refreshing and self-aware. These kinds of campaigns show that any brand, even a global brand, having fun can be incredibly effective.

The thread tying both of these campaigns together? They’ve clearly had thought behind them. They’re strategic, timely, and tap into emotional or cultural triggers and they understand their audience. That’s not luck. That’s great marketing.

Let’s face it, it’s not easy. In such a competitive space, coming up with something new, fresh and on-brand is a challenge. But doing nothing? Well that’s far worse. Staying silent or playing it safe is the fastest route to irrelevance. And at Gadd, we’re all about helping businesses find their voice whether it’s loud, cheeky, heartfelt or trend-led. Sometimes having some outside perspective can give the injection of energy that your business is craving. 

So, what’s the takeaway?Don’t be afraid to do something different. Jump on the trend. Tell the joke. Tie your message into what your audience already cares about. Just don’t do nothing.

Need help finding your creative spark? That’s what we’re here for.

Team Gadd x