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Preview text: Restoring 74,000 photos from a 3-2-1 backup

Hey there,

I just put my backup system to the test in a way I never intended. I deleted my entire photo library - 74,000 photos, including my daughter's first year - and then tried to restore it from my 3-2-1 setup. The Immich app on a mini PC, snapshots to a second drive, and offsite to Backblaze B2 all had to work together if I was going to get any of it back.

The restore took 6 hours and 11 minutes to pull 412GB down a 74 Mbps line. What broke that I didn't expect? The encryption key lived in a password manager on the machine I'd wiped, so that was fun to deal with. The snapshot job had also been silently failing since March on one dataset, and Immich's own database restore needed a version match I hadn't documented. It was a long evening, but everything is back now.

If you're setting up your own home lab, take it from me: the backup strategy is just as important as the hardware you choose. I've learned that the hard way, and I'm working on a resource to help you get started with backups and more.

For now, if you missed it, the video detailing the whole restore process is up on my channel.

Cheers,
Ollie at Bench & Bytes

1. The 6h 11m restore test (number-driven) - This subject line earns the open because it hints at a dramatic and personal story, raising curiosity about what happened and how it was resolved, and the specific number adds a sense of realism and challenge.
2. What broke during my restore (curiosity gap) - This option works by creating a sense of anticipation and worry, as the reader wonders what could have gone wrong during such a critical process, and is motivated to open the email to find out.
3. I deleted 74,000 photos on purpose (personal/confessional) - This subject line is effective because it starts with a shocking and relatable admission, inviting the reader to learn more about the experience and the lessons learned, which creates a personal connection.
4. The one backup mistake I made (question) - By framing the subject as a mistake, this line encourages the reader to reflect on their own backup strategies and opens the email to learn from the creator's experience, preventing similar mistakes.
5. Why I nearly lost all my photos (contrarian) - This subject line earns the open by challenging the assumption that backups are foolproof and that disasters can't happen to anyone, making the reader curious about the story and the backup strategy that failed.

Email 1 - Welcome + Quick Win

Send: immediately · Job: deliver value in the first 60 seconds

Subject options:

1. Get Your Home Lab Up and Running
2. Start Your Home Lab Journey Today
3. Home Lab Quickstart Inside

Preview text: Your step-by-step guide to a quiet, low-power home lab

Hey there,

I'm Ollie from Bench & Bytes, and I'm excited to have you on board. As a working software developer interested in self-hosting and low-power builds, you're probably looking for a way to set up your own home lab without breaking the bank or disturbing the household. That's exactly what my content is about, and I'm here to guide you through it.

To get you started, I've put together the Home Lab Quickstart checklist. This downloadable PDF file will walk you through setting up your first server, choosing the right hardware, and implementing a solid backup strategy. It's based on my own experience, including the mistakes I've made and the lessons I've learned.

You can download the Home Lab Quickstart checklist here: [link to download]. Take the first step towards getting your home lab up and running, and let me know if you have any questions or need further guidance.

As a bonus tip, remember that drives are where the value is. They always were. So, when you're setting up your home lab, make sure to invest in good quality drives.

Home Lab Quickstart

Format: Checklist

Why this one

The Home Lab Quickstart checklist solves a specific problem for Ollie's audience: getting started with a home lab setup without breaking the bank or disturbing the household. This audience has it right now because they're working software developers interested in self-hosting and low-power builds, as seen in the recent video "I deleted my entire photo library on purpose - a real restore test". This offer connects to what Ollie sells, particularly the $19 Docker Compose template pack, by providing a foundational resource for developers looking to set up their own home labs. By focusing on a quiet, low-power build, it also resonates with the creator's content on backups and the actual costs of running a home lab.

What's in it

1. Introduction to Home Labs

An overview of what a home lab is, its benefits for software developers, and how it can be set up quietly and efficiently, including a brief on the importance of backups and cost considerations.

2. Choosing the Right Hardware

A guide to selecting the appropriate hardware for a home lab, including considerations for low power consumption, noise level, and budget, highlighting where the value lies, such as in drives.

Get Your Home Lab Up and Running

Are you a software developer looking to set up your own home lab but not sure where to start? You're not alone. Many of us have been there, overwhelmed by the choices and unsure of how to begin without breaking the bank or disturbing the household. That's why I've put together the Home Lab Quickstart checklist, to guide you through setting up your first server, choosing the right hardware, and implementing a solid backup strategy.

This checklist is designed to get you started quickly, with actionable steps you can take in under an hour. It's based on my own experience setting up home labs, including the mistakes I've made and the lessons I've learned, like the importance of drives and the pitfalls of certain hardware choices.

By downloading the Home Lab Quickstart, you'll get a clear, step-by-step guide to setting up your home lab, including how to avoid common mistakes and how to ensure your data is safe. You won't need any prior experience with home labs; this guide is designed for beginners.

Download Now

Before you publish this: Add a personal anecdote or a brief story of overcoming a challenge with home labs to the body for added connection with the audience.

How often you send

You should send emails every two weeks, as specified in your send_frequency. This cadence allows you to maintain consistent communication with your audience without overwhelming them. If you miss a week, it's better to skip sending an email rather than sending something that might not be up to your standards.

Your next four issues

Issue 2 - Video-to-Newsletter
Topic: Setting up a low-power home lab on a budget ·
This issue belongs in this slot because it follows up on the interest in self-hosting and low-power builds, providing actionable tips for setting up a home lab without breaking the bank.

1. Low Power, High Savings
2. Budget Home Lab Setup
3. Efficient Home Lab for Developers

Issue 3 - Personal Story
Topic: Overcoming common mistakes in home lab setup ·
This issue belongs here because it shares personal experiences and lessons learned, helping readers avoid similar pitfalls and creating a stronger connection with the audience.

1. Mistakes I Made in My Home Lab
2. Lessons Learned from My Home Lab Journey
3. Avoiding Common Home Lab Mistakes

Issue 4 - Best-of Content
Topic: Top resources for home lab enthusiasts ·
This issue belongs in this slot as it provides value by curating the best content for home lab enthusiasts, making it a useful resource for subscribers.

1. Top Home Lab Resources You Need
2. Best of Home Lab Content
3. Essential Home Lab Reading

Given your open rate context of a 47% average open and 6.2% click rate, here are some potential fixes:

1. Subject line quality - Are your subject lines too vague or too long?
Look at your recent subject lines, such as "'New video: Proxmox vs TrueNAS'" (31% open) and "'The quietest NAS I've built'" (44% open). Notice that "'What my rack cost me in July'" (58% open) performed better, possibly due to its personal and cost-related nature. Consider making your subject lines more specific, personal, and value-driven. For example, "'New video: Proxmox vs TrueNAS'" could be rewritten as "'Proxmox vs TrueNAS: Which Saves You More?'" to add a question that prompts curiosity.

2. Frequency and expectation - Is your send rate matching what subscribers were told at signup?
You are sending emails every two weeks, which is a good cadence for maintaining engagement without overwhelming subscribers. Ensure that your welcome sequence clearly communicates this frequency to set the right expectations.

3. Promise-content match - Is the email delivering what the subject line and signup promise said it would?
Review your content to ensure it aligns with the promises made in your subject lines and signup process. For example, if a subject line promises a "low-power home lab setup," the content should deliver actionable tips and resources for achieving that.