This actually happened to me a few weeks ago, and I’m still laughing about it. I stumbled across a website that sold children’s books… alongside adult products. Yes, actual adult products. I was absolutely blown away by the sheer, mind-boggling diversity of this site. One moment I’m looking at a picture book about farm animals, the next I’m confronted with devices and accessories that are definitely not bedtime-friendly — at least, not in any conventional sense.
Funnily enough, a parent browsing for a bedtime story could accidentally stumble into categories that are “bedtime-friendly” in a whole different meaning of the word. I laughed, I cried (mostly from laughing), and then it got me thinking: there’s a serious branding lesson buried in this absurdity.
While the adult products/kids’ books combination is extreme, the underlying problem is one that shows up all the time: mixing unrelated products or services on the same website is usually a bad idea. Even if the industries are perfectly normal, like insurance and hardware, cramming them together leads to confusion, frustrated customers, and a headache you really don’t need.
The “Pros” (yes, there are a few)
One set of bills → Hosting, domain, maintenance… cheaper and easier to keep everything under one roof.
Shared traffic → If the same people might want both services (like design and printing), traffic for one can benefit the other.
Less admin → One site to update, one login, one less thing to forget — which, let’s be honest, is already enough for most of us.
The Cons (aka: where things get awkward)
Brand confusion → Customers shouldn’t need a detective’s handbook to figure out what you actually do. Are you selling books, tools, insurance, or… something else entirely?
Different audiences → Even if the products aren’t scandalous, very different offerings appeal to very different people. One group may be annoyed or put off by the other.
SEO and marketing headaches → Search engines and social platforms might struggle to categorize your site, hurting visibility and reach.
Professionalism & trust → Combining unrelated offerings can make your business look messy or disorganised — like you just threw everything at the wall and hoped it would stick.
When it actually makes sense
Your offerings are closely related (branding + design + print).
They share the same audience (small business owners needing multiple services).
You have one clear story tying everything together.
When to split them up
If your audiences are completely different.
If one side of the business could damage the reputation of the other.
If explaining your business takes longer than your morning coffee run.
The Bottom Line
Mixing multiple businesses on one website can seem convenient, but usually ends in confusion. Separate your offerings, keep your branding clear, and save your customers from scratching their heads.
Even mild mismatches quietly erode credibility, trust, and sales — and extreme mismatches can make you laugh until your eyes water. Either way, clarity always wins.
Need a hand?
While reading this, you might realise that your website has more than one focus — maybe even two very different offerings quietly living side by side. If that’s the case, I can help. I can:
Give you advice on splitting your offerings into separate websites
Help you structure your website so it’s clear and easy for customers to navigate
Make sure your SEO and Google presence isn’t being accidentally sabotaged
Reach out — let’s make your website work for your customers, not against them.