How to set up BIMI records for multiple subdomains while excluding the parent domain?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit shares that setting up BIMI for subdomains while excluding the parent often requires careful DNS configuration and ensuring that the VMC covers all required subdomains separately.
Email marketer from Email On Acid shares that testing is crucial and suggests using BIMI validators to ensure that each subdomain’s BIMI record is correctly configured and validated against the VMC.
Email marketer from StackOverflow responds that each subdomain intended to use BIMI requires a distinct BIMI DNS record. The parent domain's BIMI record, if it exists, will not apply to subdomains unless explicitly configured.
Email marketer from Word to the Wise shares that you need to ensure each subdomain that requires BIMI has its own DNS record configured correctly. This includes both the BIMI record and the associated VMC.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that you can include the parent domain in the VMC and publish your BIMI records at the subdomain level.
Email marketer from Email Geeks Forum answers that the VMC should include all subdomains as Subject Alternative Names (SANs). This ensures that the certificate validates correctly for each subdomain's BIMI record.
Email marketer from Dmarcian.com advises that to setup BIMI, that you should implement DMARC on your subdomains, and also implement DMARC on your parent domain.
Email marketer from Mailhardener.com states that you must create a BIMI record for each subdomain you want to use with BIMI. The VMC must also be valid for that subdomain.
Email marketer from ZeroBounce.net explains that after setting up your BIMI records, it will increase brand visibility, improve customer trust, and enhance email security.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares current draft BIMI specs that the organizational domain being in the domain-set (the SAN list in the VMC) is enough to make it work, providing links to the spec.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that to implement BIMI on subdomains while excluding the parent domain, ensure each subdomain has its own unique BIMI record pointing to a VMC that validates only that subdomain. You cannot apply a parent domain BIMI record to subdomains and exclude the parent.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from IETF explains in the BIMI draft specification that the BIMI record is discovered at a specific location for each domain/subdomain. If you want a different logo for a subdomain, it needs its own record.
Documentation from DigiCert.com explains that when using a VMC, the domain in the BIMI record must match a Subject Alternative Name (SAN) in the VMC. For subdomains, the SAN should specifically include the subdomain.
Documentation from BIMI Group states that the BIMI DNS TXT record must be set up on each subdomain where you want the BIMI logo to appear, pointing to the correct logo and VMC.
Documentation from Entrust.com shares that the VMC is linked to your BIMI record so when creating a VMC, ensure that it has all the subject alternative names for your subdomains.
Documentation from Valimail.com states that BIMI can be implemented on subdomains independently of the parent domain. Each subdomain needs its own BIMI record, pointing to the VMC.