What Is BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)?
BIMI is an email standard that allows organizations to display their brand logo next to authenticated emails in the recipient's inbox, increasing brand visibility and trust.
How BIMI Works
BIMI is published as a TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com. The record points to an SVG logo file and optionally a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC). When a receiving mail server processes an authenticated email that passes DMARC with enforcement, it looks up the BIMI record and displays the specified logo in the inbox alongside the message.
BIMI requires your domain to have a DMARC policy of p=quarantine or p=reject. This ensures that only domains with strong email authentication can display brand logos, preventing abuse.
Why BIMI Matters
BIMI provides a tangible incentive for organizations to implement strong email authentication. Beyond security, it improves brand recognition in crowded inboxes and can increase email engagement rates. Studies show branded emails with logos receive higher open rates compared to those without visual brand indicators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for BIMI?
BIMI requires a DMARC policy of quarantine or reject with full alignment. You need an SVG logo in BIMI Tiny PS format and, for most providers, a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) from a certificate authority.
Which email providers support BIMI?
Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Apple Mail (iOS 16+), and Fastmail support BIMI. Microsoft Outlook does not currently support it. Support continues to expand as more providers adopt the standard.
What is a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)?
A VMC is a digital certificate that verifies ownership of a trademarked logo for BIMI. It is issued by certificate authorities like DigiCert or Entrust. Gmail requires a VMC to display BIMI logos.