One Big List vs. Many Focused Lists
The most common mistake: one giant "All My Gear" list with 50 items. It's hard to find things in, ranks poorly in search (too broad), and overwhelms visitors.
The better approach: multiple focused lists, each targeting a specific use case or audience query.
Examples:
● "My Woodworking Hand Tools" → targets people looking for woodworking tool recommendations
● "Budget Beginner Metalworking Setup" → targets beginners on a budget
● "My YouTube Video Production Setup" → targets creators who want to copy your camera setup
● "Safety Gear I Actually Use" → targets safety-conscious viewers
Specific lists rank better in search. A viewer who lands on "Budget Beginner Metalworking Setup" is much more likely to buy something than a viewer who lands on a 50-item mega-list.
Use Custom Slugs for Better URLs
With Basic and Premium plans, you can set a custom URL slug for each gear list. makermanifest.co/yourname/my-woodworking-hand-tools is more searchable and more shareable than makermanifest.co/yourname/xr7k2. Set a descriptive slug that matches what someone would search for.
Add a YouTube Video to Each List
Link the relevant YouTube video to each gear list using the YouTube Video URL field in the editor. This creates a connection between your content and your gear list — visitors who arrive from search can watch the video, and viewers who arrive from YouTube can browse the gear. The video thumbnail also improves the visual appeal of the list page.
Write Descriptions That Convert
The auto-scraped title and image are a starting point. Add a short personal note on each item: why you use it, how long you've had it, what it's good and bad at. "I've used this drill press for 3 years, the table is solid but the depth stop is annoying" converts better than a generic product name. Authenticity is your competitive advantage over affiliate spam sites.
Make Your Lists Visible Everywhere
Your gear list short link should be in:
● Every YouTube video description that uses any item on the list (at the top, not buried)
● Your YouTube channel About section
● Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter bios
● Your email signature or newsletter
● Any blog post or tutorial related to the topic
If you have a website, use the embed feature (Premium) to drop the list directly on the relevant page.
See the full Gear Lists feature page or create your account to start building.