How to grow your mailing list with guest WiFi

Almost every customer who stays more than a few minutes asks for your WiFi. That makes guest WiFi one of the easiest ways for a venue to build a mailing list: people already want what you are offering, and signing up is the price of entry.

Here is how to get the most out of it.

1. Make signing up quick

Every extra field costs you sign-ups. A first name, last name and email address is enough to send personal, useful emails. Skip phone numbers, birthdays and long questionnaires on the portal itself. You can always ask for more later in a welcome email.

2. Make the page look like you

A sign-up page with your logo and name feels trustworthy. A generic page feels like a trap. Use your own branding, keep the wording friendly, and say plainly what people are signing up for.

3. Be clear about what they’re agreeing to

Tell guests they’ll be added to your mailing list and link to your terms of use. Being upfront builds trust and keeps your list healthy: people who know what to expect are less likely to unsubscribe or mark you as spam. Make sure the way you collect and use emails fits the data protection rules that apply to your business.

4. Tell people the WiFi exists

Put the network name on table cards, menus, receipts and a sign by the till. Remove the old password from the chalkboard so the portal is the only way in.

5. Send a welcome email straight away

Set up an automated welcome email in Mailchimp or Brevo for new contacts. Thank them for visiting, tell them what kind of emails to expect, and give them a reason to come back, such as a small offer on their next visit.

6. Email regularly, but not too often

A list that never hears from you goes cold. For most venues, one or two emails a month is plenty. Make each one worth opening: an event, a new menu, an offer, or a bit of news. Need inspiration? See our 10 email campaign ideas for venues.

7. Keep each venue’s list separate if it helps

If you run several venues, decide whether they share one list or keep their own. Separate lists let you send local news. Shared lists are simpler to manage. Tags and segments in your email platform let you do both.

8. Watch what works

Check open and click rates in your email platform, and use the UTM tags on your website link to see how many visits come from the WiFi portal. Keep doing what brings people back, and drop what doesn’t.

WiFi Broker handles the first four steps for you on UniFi networks: a branded portal, a quick three-field sign-up, your own terms, and guests added straight to Mailchimp or Brevo.