Learn · email signature glossary
TL;DR
BIMI stands for Brand Indicators for Message Identification. It is a standard that lets a domain owner publish a logo through a DNS TXT record (at default._bimi.yourdomain.com) so that mailbox providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Apple Mail show that logo beside the sender's messages in the inbox list. The logo must be an SVG in the restricted 'SVG Tiny PS' profile, and the domain must already enforce DMARC with a policy of quarantine or reject. Most major providers additionally require a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), which proves you own the trademark on the logo.
Re: In practice
BIMI puts your logo in the one place a signature cannot reach: the inbox list, before the recipient even opens the message. That visibility builds recognition and makes spoofed mail easier to spot, since forged messages will not carry the verified mark. The barrier to entry is real, though. You need DMARC at enforcement (not just p=none), a correctly formatted SVG, and usually a VMC, which involves a registered trademark and an annual certificate fee that runs over a thousand dollars. For small teams the sensible path is to treat BIMI as the final step of email authentication: get SPF, DKIM, and DMARC solid first, then decide whether the logo placement justifies the certificate cost.
Fwd: Worth a look
DKIM
DKIM adds a cryptographic signature to outgoing email that receivers verify against a public key in your DNS, proving the message was not altered.
DMARC
DMARC is a DNS policy that tells receiving mail servers what to do when a message fails SPF and DKIM checks. Learn how policies and reports work.
MIME
MIME is the internet standard that lets email carry HTML, attachments, and non-ASCII text. It is why HTML signatures can exist at all.
SPF record
SPF is a DNS TXT record listing the servers allowed to send email for your domain. Learn how receiving servers use it and what its limits are.
email signature CTA
A signature CTA is a call to action, like a booking link or banner, placed in your email signature to turn everyday messages into conversions.
dark mode email signature
Dark mode inverts email backgrounds and can make logos and text in signatures unreadable. Learn what changes and how to design around it.
Free generator, no account required. Works in Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail.
Try Free Generator