Summary
Expediting VMC certificate issuance involves a multi-faceted approach. Key strategies include leveraging existing relationships with certificate authorities like DigiCert and Entrust, ensuring meticulous accuracy and consistency in all trademark information across all platforms and documents, and proactively managing the application process. Crucial technical elements include ensuring the logo meets specific SVG format requirements, properly configuring email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and establishing a strong domain reputation. Seeking expert assistance through experienced notaries and VMC pre-check services, as well as maintaining responsive communication with the certification authority, are also beneficial. Alternative logo coverage options (Google-profile and Annotation-based logos) can be used while awaiting VMC.
Key findings
- Relationships Matter: Leveraging existing relationships with certificate authorities can accelerate processing.
- Trademark Accuracy is Paramount: Incomplete, inaccurate, or inconsistent trademark information is a primary cause of delays.
- Technical Preparation is Key: Correct logo format, email authentication setup, and domain reputation are crucial technical prerequisites.
- Proactive Management is Essential: Proactive communication, application monitoring, and responsiveness to inquiries are vital for efficient processing.
- Expert Assistance Can Help: Experienced notaries and VMC pre-check services can identify and address potential issues beforehand.
Key considerations
- Relationship Assessment: Assess existing relationships with certificate authorities and explore opportunities to leverage them.
- Data Validation: Implement rigorous processes to validate trademark information for accuracy and consistency across all platforms and documentation.
- Technical Audit: Conduct a technical audit to ensure logo compliance with SVG format requirements, proper email authentication configuration (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and a strong domain reputation.
- Process Monitoring: Establish a system for proactively monitoring the application process, responding promptly to inquiries, and addressing any issues that arise.
- Expert Engagement: Consider engaging experienced notaries and VMC pre-check services to identify and mitigate potential delays.
- Alternative Logo Solutions: Investigate and utilize alternatives such as Google-profile and annotation-based logo to cover the domain until VMC is approved.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Expediting VMC certificate issuance involves several key steps. Trademark registration accuracy is crucial, including alignment across jurisdictions and legal entity details. Proactive communication with the certificate authority, along with regular application monitoring, helps address issues promptly. Selecting an experienced notary and ensuring your logo meets SVG format requirements are important. Pre-checking services can validate domain readiness. It's important to have BIMI set up correctly and ensuring a good domain reputation also helps. Finally, it is important to be responsive to questions and issues raised by the certification authority.
Key opinions
- Trademark Accuracy: Ensure trademark details are accurate and consistent across all application documents and jurisdictions to avoid delays.
- Proactive Communication: Contact the certificate authority's support team proactively and monitor the application status regularly.
- Technical Readiness: Verify the logo's SVG format, BIMI setup, and domain reputation before applying.
- Expert Assistance: Engage an experienced notary public and consider using a VMC pre-check service.
- Responsiveness: Quickly address any questions or issues raised by the certification authority to maintain momentum.
Key considerations
- Jurisdictional Scope: Confirm trademark registration covers all relevant jurisdictions for your business.
- SVG Format: Validate the logo's SVG format and scalability to meet VMC requirements.
- BIMI Prerequisite: Ensure BIMI is correctly configured with valid DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records.
- Domain Reputation: Establish a positive domain reputation to minimize scrutiny during the VMC review process.
- Application Monitoring: Regularly check the application status and be prepared to promptly address any queries from the certificate authority.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Gmass suggests ensuring the domain reputation is good before applying, by warming up the IP address and ensuring you are following all email deliverability best practices. This prevents delays if the CA needs to do further review.
1 Nov 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view
Email marketer from ZeroBounce recommends ensuring BIMI is set up properly before VMC, making sure your DMARC, DKIM and SPF records are all correct, the logo is correct and the BIMI record is working. This ensures your application will be smoother.
31 Mar 2025 - ZeroBounce
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Expediting VMC certificate issuance involves leveraging existing relationships with certificate authorities like DigiCert and Entrust, ensuring accuracy and consistency in trademark information across all platforms, and thoroughly reviewing trademark details before submission. Delays often arise from incomplete or inaccurate information, as well as inconsistencies in branding.
Key opinions
- Leverage Relationships: Existing relationships with certificate authorities like DigiCert and Entrust can expedite the process.
- Trademark Accuracy: Incomplete or inaccurate trademark information is a common cause of delays.
- Branding Consistency: Inconsistencies between brand name, logo, and registered trademark can lead to scrutiny and delays.
- Time-Consuming Process: The VMC process involves notary and logo verification, requiring careful preparation.
Key considerations
- Existing Relationships: Determine if your organization has pre-existing relationships with VMC issuers.
- Trademark Verification: Thoroughly review and double-check all trademark details for accuracy before submitting the application.
- Branding Audit: Conduct an audit to ensure consistency in branding across all platforms and materials.
- Process Understanding: Familiarize yourself with the time-consuming steps involved in VMC acquisition and plan accordingly.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that obtaining a VMC involves time-consuming steps like notary and logo verification and suggests a pre-existing client relationship could lead to faster processing.
30 Mar 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that Digicert/Entrust control the VMC certificates and leveraging existing relationships with them might expedite the process.
5 Mar 2025 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Expediting VMC certificate issuance requires meticulous preparation and adherence to technical specifications. Key steps include ensuring your logo meets exact specifications (correct SVG format, registered trademark), providing all required documentation upfront, accurately aligning all registered trademark details across application documents, properly configuring email authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC with 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject'), and potentially choosing a VMC provider known for efficient processing.
Key findings
- Logo Compliance: The logo must meet exact specifications, including being a registered trademark and in the correct SVG format.
- Complete Documentation: Providing all required documentation upfront significantly speeds up the process.
- Trademark Accuracy: All details associated with the registered trademark must be precisely aligned across all application documents.
- Email Authentication: Proper configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC (with 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject') is essential.
- Provider Selection: Choosing a VMC provider with efficient processing times and responsive support can be beneficial.
Key considerations
- Logo Preparation: Ensure your logo is registered, available in SVG format, and meets all specifications outlined by the VMC provider.
- Documentation Checklist: Create a checklist to ensure all required documentation is gathered and prepared before starting the application process.
- Data Alignment: Double-check that all trademark details (name, address, jurisdiction) are consistent across all application materials.
- DMARC Configuration: Confirm that your DMARC policy is set to 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' to meet BIMI and VMC requirements.
- Provider Research: Research and compare VMC providers to find one with a reputation for efficiency and good customer support.
Technical article
Documentation from Sectigo mentions researching and choosing a VMC provider (certificate authority) known for its efficient processing times and responsive customer support can be beneficial. Some providers have streamlined their processes and offer quicker turnaround times.
2 Jan 2023 - Sectigo
Technical article
Documentation from DigiCert highlights that ensuring your logo meets exact specifications and providing all required documentation upfront can significantly speed up the VMC issuance process. Specifically, ensuring the logo is a registered trademark and available in the correct SVG format is critical.
14 Nov 2023 - DigiCert
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