Verified Mark Certificate
What is a Verified Mark Certificate?
A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is a digital certificate that validates the authenticity of a sender's logo and the domain. This is issued by trusted Certified Authorities (CAs). This certificate allows organizations and businesses to display their registered trademarked logo in the avatar slot next to sender's name in a recipient's inbox.
VMC is required by some email providers like Zoho Mail, Gmail, and Apple Mail to show your logo through BIMI.
Why is a Verified Mark Certificate important?
It ensures stronger email security
To qualify for a VMC, your domain must have SPF, DKIM, and a DMARC policy in place. These authentication measures strengthen your email ecosystem significantly and prevent unauthorized parties from using your domain.
It protects customers from phishing
A VMC adds a verified visual identity to your emails, making it easier for recipients to distinguish genuine messages from fraudulent ones. This reduces the risk of phishing or spoofing attacks and increases customer confidence.
It improves brand recognition
A VMC displays your verified logo prominently in the inbox, helping your emails stand out instantly. This consistent visual presence strengthens brand recall, makes your messages more noticeable, and reinforces your identity every time a recipient checks their mail.
It boosts customer experience
A verified logo makes your emails look safer and more credible. This encourages more users to open and engage with your messages, leading to better email performance overall.
How to get a VMC for your business?
1. Publish SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
Your domain must have proper email authentication, with DMARC set to an enforcement policy of quarantine or reject. Without this, a Certified Authority will not issue a VMC.
2. Create your BIMI logo
Create a SVG Tiny PS version of your official logo and host it publicly over HTTPS. Use a perfectly square image that contains only the logo (no text) so it remains clear and recognizable when shown at the small sizes used by email clients.
3. Confirm trademark registration
Your logo must be registered as a trademark with an accepted trademark office. The Certified Authority verifies this to ensure your brand identity is legally protected.
4. Choose an approved Certificate Authority
Purchase a VMC from trusted Certified Authorities like DigiCert or Entrust. They will perform identity verification, domain authentication, and trademark checks.
5. Upload your BIMI record
After obtaining the VMC, publish the BIMI record as a TXT entry in your domain’s DNS. The record includes your SVG logo URL and the link to your VMC. Once published, email providers that authenticate your message using DMARC will check this DNS entry and display your brand logo in the inbox accordingly.
6. Test and monitor
Once configured, test your BIMI setup and monitor how your logo appears across different email clients.