Understanding the precise format for your BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) record is crucial for getting your logo to appear in customer inboxes. The record itself is a standard TXT record that you add to your domain's DNS settings, but it has a very specific naming convention that must be followed.
The name, often called the “host” in DNS panels, follows this structure: selector._bimi.yourdomain.com. Let's break down what each part of that means.
It’s important to remember that BIMI builds on top of other email authentication standards. Before your logo will be displayed, you must have a DMARC record with an enforcement policy of p=quarantine or p=reject. This is a non-negotiable prerequisite for mailbox providers to trust and display your BIMI logo.
Breaking down the record name
The name of the BIMI TXT record has three distinct parts, each with a specific purpose.
- The selector: This is a label you choose. For most implementations, you will simply use default. So, your record name would start with default._bimi. The purpose of selectors is to allow for different logos for different subdomains or email streams, but starting with 'default' is the standard approach.
- The service identifier: The _bimi part is a fixed string. It signals to receiving mail servers that this specific DNS record is for BIMI. You must include this exactly as written.
- Your domain: The final part is your organizational domain (e.g., suped.com). In many DNS providers, you only need to enter the selector and service identifier (default._bimi) into the host/name field, and the provider will automatically append your domain.
Therefore, for a company with the domain example.com, the full DNS record name would be default._bimi.example.com.
What about the record's value?
While the name is what you were asking about, it's only half the story. The record's value, or content, is what points to your brand's logo. This value is a string containing specific tags.
A typical BIMI record value looks like this: v=BIMI1; l=https://path/to/your/logo.svg;. The v tag specifies the version (always BIMI1 for now), and the l tag provides the secure URL to your logo in SVG format. If you have a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), you would also include an a tag pointing to it.
In summary, getting the BIMI record name correct is a simple but strict process. By using the selector._bimi.yourdomain.com format, you ensure that mailbox providers can find and validate your record, which is the first step to displaying your logo and enhancing brand recognition in the inbox.
