How do I display my logo in email inboxes, particularly Gmail, and what are the BIMI requirements?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit shares some common issues with BIMI implementation including incorrect DMARC settings, logo not being a registered trademark, and problems with the VMC. Troubleshooting involves verifying each element of the BIMI setup.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) needs to be issued by an authorized certification authority (CA). The logo file must be in SVG format, and meet specific requirements.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares a workaround to get logos in Gmail using Google Profile & Gmail Annotations, and provides a link to instructions. Also provides instructions on how to show your logo in Microsoft inboxes, and suggests working on BIMI for Verizon clients.
Email marketer from GlockApps shares that there are several BIMI checking tools available online that can help validate whether a BIMI record is correctly configured. These tools verify the syntax of the BIMI record and check for common errors.
Email marketer from Mailjet responds that BIMI implementation involves publishing a BIMI DNS record, ensuring DMARC is enforced (p=quarantine or p=reject), and using a VMC for the logo. This allows the logo to be displayed in supporting email clients like Yahoo and Fastmail.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that BIMI is not yet supported by many mailbox providers and provides a link to an infographic showing current support.
Email marketer from Gmass shares that setting up BIMI with Google Workspace involves configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for your domain. Then, obtain a VMC for your logo and add the BIMI TXT record to your DNS settings.
Email marketer from Twitter speculates that BIMI will become more widely adopted as email providers prioritize security and sender authentication. Wider adoption may include expanded VMC requirements and tighter integration with existing email authentication standards.
Email marketer from Litmus shares that Gmail supports BIMI, and displaying a logo requires meeting BIMI standards including DMARC, DKIM, SPF, and a VMC for the logo. Once these are set up correctly, the logo should automatically display in Gmail inboxes.
Marketer from Email Geeks confirms that they have used Brian's suggested solution for setting up email addresses for annotations.
Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that Gmail does not fully support BIMI yet, and it is limited to a pilot program. Suggests trying Yahoo and AOL apps instead. Also provides a link suggesting that VMC will be required on Gmail soon.
Email marketer from SparkPost responds that BIMI provides increased brand visibility, improved brand trust, and better email engagement rates by displaying a verified logo in the inbox. It helps recipients identify legitimate emails and reduces the risk of phishing.
Email marketer from EmailGeek shares that Gmail Annotations are an alternative to BIMI for displaying logos, particularly in the promotions tab. This involves adding structured data (JSON-LD) to your email's HTML and following Google's guidelines.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains how to solve the issue of the ESP handling the bounce handler using SparkPost and Google Workspace as alternative domain.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise responds to the question by sharing that some mailbox providers require a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) which validates the logo, whilst others do not.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that BIMI offers increased brand visibility and improved email security. She suggests to implement BIMI by setting up DMARC and then publishing the correct BIMI DNS record.
Expert from Email Geeks shares a link to Verizon's specific BIMI requirements.
What the documentation says6Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft shares that while Outlook doesn't fully support BIMI, logos can be displayed through sender profile pictures and by ensuring consistent branding across all email communications. Organization branding can also be configured within Microsoft 365 to impact the appearance of emails.
Documentation from Google explains that Gmail annotations let you highlight promotions in the Promotions tab. Logos can be displayed using JSON-LD schema in the email's HTML, and senders need to register with Google and meet certain sender reputation criteria.
Documentation from Entrust explains that the SVG logo used for BIMI must meet specific requirements: it should be a vector graphic, without any embedded raster images, and must be properly formatted. The SVG file should also be publicly accessible via HTTPS.
Documentation from DigiCert explains that a VMC (Verified Mark Certificate) is a digital certificate that verifies the ownership of a logo and is required by some email providers for BIMI. It ensures that the logo being displayed is legitimate and belongs to the sender.
Documentation from BIMI Group explains that BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) requires setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication. A logo must be a registered trademark and validated using a VMC (Verified Mark Certificate). The DNS record for BIMI must point to the logo's SVG file.
Documentation from Fastmail explains that it fully supports BIMI and displaying your logo in Fastmail requires setting up DMARC, DKIM, SPF, and a BIMI record in your DNS. A VMC is not mandatory but recommended.