The picture shows two smartphones with the Gmail Inbox. On the left-hand smartphone, the initials (“M”) of the sender “Members Login” are shown next to the first two messages. On the right-hand smartphone, the logo of “Members Login” is shown next to the first two messages.

We now have a certified BIMI logo (Common Mark Certificate) for our outgoing emails.

How it works

BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is an email specification that allows email providers to display a brand's logo next to authenticated emails instead of the usual initials.

  • BIMI relies on existing email authentication protocols like DMARC.

  • To use BIMI, you need to register your logo with a “VMC” (Verified Mark Certificate) or - new - a “CMC” (Common Mark Certificate). This ensures the logo is authentic and belongs to your brand.

  • If the emails pass DMARC checks and have a valid VMC/CMC, supported email clients can display the logo next to the "From" address.

Support by mailbox providers

Since 2021, BIMI has been crucial for building trust between email senders and recipients. This is why many large mailbox providers (i.e. Apple Mail, Gmail, Yahoo!) support the display of the logo both in the inbox list as well as in an open email message.

An overview can be found on theBIMI Group website.

An open message “Reset your password” from Members Login, where the logo is displayed next to the sender's name.

VMC vs. CMC

In order for the logo to be displayed next to the sender, a logo in SVG format (read the SVG requirements here) and a certificate (Verified Mark Certificate - VMC) were previously required. In order to obtain a VMC, a trademark or a registered government mark was also required.

In September 2024, Google annouced that Gmail will also support Common Mark Certificates (CMC), a new type of BIMI certificates issued by Certificate Authorities (CA). However, this type of certificate is currently only supported by Gmail.

The only two conditions for this type of certificate are a confirmed organization and a logo that is displayed on the website for at least one year (checked via the Wayback Machine).

Conclusion

This new type of BIMI certificate makes it interesting for smaller brands and communities, as there are no additional costs for a trademark. But you should wait a little longer until it is supported by other mailbox providers.

Try it out

If you would like to experience the BIMI feature, just create an account and sign up with your Gmail address on 👉 Members login.

Please note: You will receive only the following automated emails:

  • Activate account (after signed up)

  • Forgot password

  • Regenerate activation code.

You will not receive messages from me directly nor your data will be published or shared with third parties.