The inbox verified badge.

To display a verified brand logo in your followers' email inboxes, you must implement BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification). This security standard requires your domain to have strict DMARC authentication and a verified certificate, which then automatically populates your logo into the sender avatar slot in Gmail, Apple Mail, and Yahoo Mail.

The process involves five distinct steps. If you miss one, the logo will not display.

The Step-by-Step BIMI Process

1. Secure Your Domain (DMARC enforcement)

Ensure your email domain is properly authenticated with SPF and DKIM. You must then publish a DMARC policy set to either p=quarantine or p=reject at 100%. Mailbox providers will not process your BIMI record if your domain is in monitoring mode (p=none).

2. Format Your Logo (SVG Tiny P/S)

Convert your official brand logo into a square Scalable Vector Graphic format known as SVG Tiny P/S (Portable/Secure). A standard SVG export from design tools will fail validation. The file must have a 1:1 aspect ratio, a solid background, and zero embedded bitmaps or external scripts.

3. Obtain a Certificate (VMC or CMC)

Purchase a VMC (Verified Mark Certificate) for trademarked logos, or a CMC (Common Mark Certificate) for non-trademarked logos, through a qualified Certificate Authority like DigiCert, Sectigo, or GlobalSign. This certificate provides the cryptographic proof that you own the logo.

4. Publish Your DNS Record

Add a BIMI TXT record to your domain's DNS settings at default._bimi.yourdomain.com. This record must point directly to your hosted SVG logo (l= tag) and your certificate PEM file (a= tag) over HTTPS.

5. Reap the Rewards

When a follower uses a BIMI-supported provider like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Apple Mail, your official avatar will display right in their inbox. In the case of a VMC, Gmail will also display a blue verified checkmark badge next to your sender name.

Further Exploration: Technical Standards and Implementation

• Review the technical requirements for SVG files at the AuthIndicators Working Group.
• Read our breakdown comparing the costs and applications of VMCs versus CMCs.
• Consult the Email Client Support List for global adoption statuses and hosting rules.

Ready to move forward?

The free makeBIMI conversion engine generates the exact W3C-compliant SVG Tiny P/S file you need for your certificate application and audits your current DMARC setup in seconds.

If you need to move from p=none to p=reject and procure a Verified Mark Certificate, the veriBIMI℠ brokerage service manages the entire process end-to-end.