Running a business with guest WiFi? You're sitting on a goldmine of potential leads. Every time someone connects to your network, that's an opportunity to capture valuable contact information. In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to set up an automated email collection system using your UniFi network and Spotipo.
What You'll Accomplish
By the end of this setup, every guest who connects to your WiFi will be prompted to enter their email address (and any other information you choose) before getting internet access. This is done automatically through a WiFi email capture portal that integrates seamlessly with your existing UniFi network.
How It Works
The process is straightforward and ensures every connection results in capturing emails for your business:
- Guest connects to your WiFi network.
- UniFi access point redirects them to Spotipo’s captive portal.
- Guest enters their email (and optional details like name or phone).
- Spotipo authenticates the user with your UniFi controller.
- Guest gains internet access, and you gain a new lead in your email list.
This transforms WiFi email capture into an automated, scalable process.
What You'll Need
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- UniFi network controller (hardware or software-based)
- An internet-accessible controller (must run 24/7)
- Admin access to your UniFi controller
- Spotipo account (14-day free trial available)
⚠️ Important: If your UniFi controller goes offline, your hotspot functionality - including email capturing will stop working.
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Create Your Spotipo Account
Sign up for a free trial. Spotipo’s setup wizard will detect your business and even pre-build a branded splash page with your logo and colors.
2. Customize Your Data Collection
Spotipo defaults to WiFi email capture, but you can add fields for names, phone numbers, or even custom questions. This turns your WiFi into a lead generation channel, not just free internet.
3. Connect Your UniFi Controller
Spotipo offers two integration options:
- Self-installed software (Linux, Docker, or cloud-based controllers)
- UniFi OS devices like UDM and UDM Pro
Choose direct connection if you have a public IP. Otherwise, use the reverse proxy (helpful for setups like Starlink that lack static IPs).
4. Configure Authentication
Enter your controller’s hostname/IP and create a dedicated local admin account for Spotipo. Avoid using your primary admin login for security reasons.
5. Select Your Network
Pick the UniFi site and SSID where you want WiFi email capture enabled. Spotipo will automatically apply the required settings in your controller.
Testing Your Setup
To confirm, connect a device to your guest network:
- You should immediately see your custom splash page.
- Enter an email to log in.
- Within seconds, internet access is granted and the email is stored in your database.
This proves your guest WiFi email capture system is working.
The Business Impact
Turning your guest WiFi into an email list builder means:
- Coffee shop visitors become repeat marketing contacts.
- Conference attendees become leads for follow-up campaigns.
- Office guests can be nurtured into long-term clients.
And the best part? It’s 100% automated. Capturing emails through WiFi runs in the background while you focus on your business.
Ready to Get Started?
Spotipo offers a free 14-day trial to set up and test WiFi email capture on your UniFi network. Whether you run a café, hotel, co-working space, or large venue, Spotipo scales to fit your needs.
Your WiFi network is already serving guests—now make it work harder by turning every login into a new entry in your email list.
👉 Start your free trial today and see how easy it is to turn guest logins into leads.
