Social WiFi: the easy way for guests to get online
Guests sign in with a social account or their email, you build a customer list with their consent, and nobody has to hunt for a password.
The basics
What is social WiFi?
Social WiFi is guest WiFi with a friendlier front door. Instead of a shared password, guests join your network and see a short sign-in page branded for your venue. They can continue with a social account they already use, or fill in a quick form with their email if they prefer.
For guests it is quicker than asking for a code. For you, every sign-in is a real customer who chose to connect, along with the details you asked for and a clear record of whether they want to hear from you.
It is the starting point for WiFi marketing: the list you build here is the one you use to welcome guests back.
How it works
How social and email login work
Four short steps for the guest, and the whole journey carries your branding.
Join the network
The guest picks your WiFi network and your sign-in page opens on their phone, tablet or laptop.
Choose how to sign in
They continue with a social account in a couple of taps, or enter their email address and any other details you ask for.
Agree, then decide on marketing
They accept your WiFi terms and privacy policy, then choose separately whether to hear from you. Skipping it still gets them online.
Get online and come back
They are connected and can be sent on to your website or a page you choose. Next time, their device reconnects automatically.
Your data
What you can collect, with consent
You decide what the sign-in page asks for. Keep it short so guests are online quickly, or add a question or two that helps your marketing. Options include:
- Name and email address
- Mobile number, for text messages
- Birthday, for birthday campaigns
- Postcode, to see where guests travel from
- Your own questions, such as a favourite drink
- Age and gender, for your insight views
Alongside what guests tell you, Wayv records their visits and how they respond to your messages, so you can see who is new, who is loyal and who has drifted away. Guests who sign in with a social account can also be invited to follow your venue's own pages.
Benefits
Good for guests, good for your venue
Social WiFi works because both sides get something out of it. Read more about the benefits of social WiFi.
For your guests
- No password to ask for or type in
- A choice of social or email sign-in
- Automatic reconnection on later visits
- A clear say over whether they hear from you
For your venue
- A growing list of real, opted-in customers
- A prompt for guests to follow your social pages
- A branded page to promote events and offers
- Insight into who visits and how often
Privacy
Privacy and GDPR
Social WiFi only works if guests trust it, so Wayv is built around clear consent. Guests see your WiFi terms and privacy policy before they connect. The marketing opt-in is a separate choice with an obvious way to skip it, and the platform keeps a record of what each guest accepted and when. Campaigns only ever go to guests who opted in.
The guest data you collect belongs to you. You can view, edit or export it from your dashboard, and guests can contact the venue to see, change or remove their details.
Data protection law covers how you use guest data, not just the software you use, so it is a shared responsibility. We will talk you through the set-up, but this is not legal advice. If you are unsure, speak to a qualified adviser.
Getting started
Getting started with social WiFi
Want to know more first? See every Wayv feature, find ideas for your sector or read our guest WiFi FAQs.
Tell us about your venue
Let us know what kind of venue you run, how big it is and what WiFi equipment you have now.
We recommend a set-up
Wayv works with UniFi, Meraki, Omada and other popular systems, or alongside a standard router. We will suggest the simplest route for you.
Brand your page and start collecting
Add your logo, colours and offers, choose the details to ask for, and your guest list grows from the very first sign-in.
Talk to us about guest WiFi for your venue
Every venue is different, so we'll put together a package that fits yours. Tell us a little about your business and we'll be in touch.