The legendary wizarding world of Harry Potter has enticed audiences for many years. This mega franchise has books, films, games & even theme parks centered around this huge brand.
One of the most memorable moments in the franchise, is the sorting hat ceremony, where first years are divided up into a corresponding wizarding house which best matches their personality. There are four of these noble houses at Hogwarts, each representing a different set of values.
This element in the series has become increasingly popular with fans taking quizzes on Pottermore and BuzzFeed to see which house they belong to: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff. The reason this part of the novel has become so compelling is its relevance to real life.
As we know, most of the elements of the Harry Potter universe delve into fantasy, but the houses of Hogwarts and the personal qualities needed to be categorised into these houses are based very much in reality.
So how does this relate to the digital marketing space?
Well, the digital marketing office contains many different departments, each with contrasting dynamics and personalities.
Sound familiar?
Despite being different in their own individual rights, the general makeup of most digital agencies remains the same. Commonly, an agency will consist of four major departments; web development, web design, digital marketing and SEO/social.
This article is going to cover these four departments and which ones match the four houses within Hogwarts. However, to be an efficient digital marketer it’s not enough to develop just one virtue. We have to be cross-disciplinary: cunning and bold, compassionate and wise. You’ll want to incorporate attributes from houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.
Ravenclaw – PPC & Programmers
Ravenclaw is a house that values wisdom, knowledge, creativity and wit.
Represented by an eagle, this house epitomizes strength, intelligence and power. Dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, always refining the process and applying their common sense to each task.
It’s due to these properties that we believe Ravenclaw is best suited to PPC and Programmers. Using their analytic brain, Ravenclaws make educated plans to best reach the hearts and minds of many.
They are often regarded as the quiet types, PPC / developers and in turn Ravenclaws are not renowned for making much fuss or causing drama.
Arguing with a Ravenclaw is futile as the knowledge they possess is beyond the realms of muggles, with their day-to-day being littered with technical issues. It is therefore appropriate that members of house Ravenclaw have to answer a riddle before being granted access to their dormitory…
Slytherin – Social Media & SEO
This cunning and ambitious group of witches and wizards are represented by the serpent, showing off green and silver colours, perfectly highlighting their sneaky, churning and slippery nature.
Often seen as a high-brow house, seeing others as less important, Slytherin can’t achieve glory without its competition from other houses.
Such is the case with much of their fame and strength being based in their heavy competition with Gryffindor.
However, it’s not all as negative as it sounds as the snake also represents stealth, intelligence and power.
This mix of traits allows for some truly great wizards (and some incredibly evil ones).
In relation to SEO & social media, Slytherin is a perfect fit as both require some sort of stealth and intelligence campaigning.
As with the misunderstood Slytherin, SEO can sometimes be considered cunning, sneaky and manipulative; but for the right reasons!
Both geniuses in the SEO game and Slytherin don’t have time for goody two shoes who aren’t willing to take a risk. Alternatively, In the case of social media specialists, they want to be involved in everybody else’s business, just like a certain house in Hogwarts…
Maybe it’s because of Slytherins true blood ideology that they don’t trust anyone else, and therefore have to poke their nose in other people’s affairs.
Essentially this is the day-to-day responsibility of social media campaigners; to be nosey and talk to as many people as possible.
Gryffindor – Digital & Content Marketing
Gryffindor, a house known for bravery, nerve and chivalry is the most famous and recognisable in all of Hogwarts due to its most famous member… Mr Potter himself.
This regal house of gold and scarlet is represented by a rearing lion and the traits of its house members mirror this well.
Brave, calm under pressure, daring and courageous – these are the traits expected of Gryffindor members and showcased perfectly by the title character. Gryffindor members seek to push the boundaries of accepted processes, and seek out new ways to reach their goals.
With this in mind, it’s quite clear that members of Gryffindor would make excellent digital/content marketers.
How exactly?
Well, to be a great digital/content marketer you need to be brave, daring and calm under pressure. In order to obtain the best results in your role you need to be courageous in your approach and be willing to leap into things you’ve never tried before!
The people who excel in this role put the right content in the right places and direct attention to it.
Hufflepuff – Designers & Brand Builders
The final major house at Hogwarts is none other than Hufflepuff. This house is known for its hard work, dedication and patience. These are of course all the traits of a designer and brand builder.
Represented by a badger framed in black and yellow, Hufflepuff are the embodiment of down to earth, relaxed members of the school, not rooted in competition and power but rather hard work, dedication and loyalty.
The connection between Hufflepuff and designers/brand builders is that both are defined by the love they have for their friends, family and profession. Hufflepuff’s live to help people and are very practical, trying to focus on what is actually achievable. This is useful when it comes to web design as a lot of clients make unrealistic demands in terms of what they want to see on their website.
When working as a designer, your job is never done. There are always tweaks to make all the way up to the delivery date.
This behaviour exudes Hufflepuff, loyalty and dedication to the cause.
Conclusion
Turns out the wizarding world isn’t so dissimilar from digital agency’s, who would have thought?
Its the combination of these houses together that make up the strength and skill needed to grow the magical world around them, and the world of magic within digital agency’s.