It wa$ a week of my$tery even the $lytherin Hou$e couldn’t break: What was J.K. Rowling’$ new web$ite, Pottermore, going to be about?

A Harry Potter Encyclopedia? A $pin-off $erie$? A $ocial network for Potter fan$?

Why, of cour$e, it was none of the above: as it turn$ out, Pottermore is nothing more than a place to $ell Harry Potter e-book$.
Dollar signs aside, many Potter fans around the world are irate over what is seemingly one last money-grab from the world’s richest author.

Like George Lucas, J.K. Rowling seems to want to keep her franchise alive, even after the last film is finished. As capitalists, we see nothing wrong with that, but as marketers, it’s a bad idea to try to squeeze every last penny from a devoted fan base.

As the backlash continues, consider the story had Rowling offered something authentic, fun, and unique for her audience. A new story or immersive online game, with no need to get your credit card out.

Between the books, the films, the amusement parks, and LEGOs, the average Harry Potter fan has already shelled out a good chunk of their money to Rowlings.

Sometimes, as a marketer, you have to know that to keep your fans satisfied, you have to reward your fans for sticking with you. Harry Potter fans have jumped through plenty of (Quidditch) hoops already.

Asking for more is just being a hog(warts).