I make things in a workshop and I also make videos about making things. And like most makers who do YouTube, I spent a lot of time dealing with a problem that doesn't have a great solution: how do you share your tool and gear recommendations in a way that's organized, up to date, and actually earns something when people click through?
The standard answer is a Google Sheet with Amazon links stuffed into the video description. It works, barely. Links break. Affiliate tags get left off. There's no way to know if anyone clicks. The whole thing is a mess.
So I built a better tool. It's called MakerManifest.
What MakerManifest Actually Does
MakerManifest is a gear list and affiliate link manager built specifically for YouTube creators, makers, woodworkers, builders, and anyone who regularly recommends products online. Here's the core of it:
How I Use It on the YouTube Channel
The New Janky Workshop channel uses MakerManifest for every build video. When I make a workbench build, I create a list with all the tools and materials I used — clamps, router, finish, hardware. Each item links to where I bought it, with my affiliate tag attached automatically. The short link goes in the description.
Before MakerManifest, that description section took 20 minutes to assemble for every video. Now it takes about 2. And I can actually see if people are clicking through, which means I can figure out what gear viewers actually care about.
Who It's For
MakerManifest is built for makers who share their work online — not for influencer marketing agencies. The typical user is a woodworker, metalworker, builder, DIYer, or hobbyist who has a YouTube channel or blog and recommends tools. But it also works well for anyone who maintains a curated product list they share with others, even without a following.
The apps page on this site has more context on the tools I've built alongside the workshop side of VARØ Industries.
It's Free to Start
No credit card required to get going. Create your first list, add your products, and share your links today at makerManifest.co.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- MakerManifest
- New Janky Workshop channel
- How I Use MakerManifest to Earn from My YouTube Gear Lists — VARØ Industries Blog
- How MakerManifest Works: Gear Lists, Short Links, Affiliate Tracking — VARØ Industries Blog
- Kit.co Shut Down: What Makers Should Use Instead — VARØ Industries Blog
- ChannelBackup: Back Up Your Entire YouTube Channel Automatically, For Free — VARØ Industries Blog
- ClaudeTray: A Battery Meter for Your Claude Code Rate Limits — VARØ Industries Blog