How to set up BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos, and troubleshoot SVG issues?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 25 Jun 2025
Updated 19 Aug 2025
6 min read
Getting your brand's logo to appear next to your email in recipients' inboxes can significantly boost trust and recognition. Two key initiatives help achieve this: Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) and the Google Promotion Tab logo. While both aim to display your logo, their setup processes and technical requirements, particularly concerning Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) files, differ.
BIMI, a global standard, allows brands to display their logo in supporting email clients like Gmail and Yahoo Mail, provided strong email authentication (DMARC) is in place. The Google Promotion Tab logo, on the other hand, is specific to Gmail's Promotion tab, offering a simpler way for marketers to enhance their marketing emails' visibility.
Setting up these logos, especially dealing with the specific SVG file format requirements, can be challenging. This guide will walk you through the steps to successfully implement both BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos, along with common troubleshooting tips for SVG related issues.
Understanding BIMI and its requirements
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is an email specification that allows organizations to display their brand logo next to their authenticated email messages. It's built on top of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance), meaning your domain must have a DMARC policy enforced, typically at p=quarantine or p=reject, to be eligible. This ensures that only legitimate, authenticated emails display your logo, enhancing trust and preventing phishing.
The core components for BIMI setup include a properly authenticated sending domain, a publicly accessible SVG file of your logo, and for most implementations, a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC). A VMC is a digital certificate that verifies your ownership of the logo and associated domain, providing an extra layer of security and trust for mailbox providers. The BIMI Group provides further resources on implementation.
Once these prerequisites are met, you publish a BIMI TXT record in your DNS. This DNS record points to the location of your SVG logo file and, if applicable, your VMC. Email clients then check this record, along with your DMARC authentication, to determine whether to display your logo. For a comprehensive guide on implementing BIMI for Gmail and Yahoo, you can refer to our detailed article.
Crafting the perfect BIMI SVG logo
The SVG file is the visual centerpiece of your BIMI implementation. However, not just any SVG file will work. BIMI requires a specific SVG Tiny PS format. This is a simplified version of the SVG standard, designed for constrained environments and security. Common issues arise when SVG files are exported from design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator without the correct export settings, often resulting in blank or transparent backgrounds despite the image being present.
To ensure your SVG is compliant, consider these guidelines:
Format: It must be SVG Tiny PS 1.2.
Aspect ratio: Your logo should be square (1:1 aspect ratio), with dimensions such as 200x200 pixels or similar. For more, refer to our guide on recommended SVG dimensions for BIMI.
Hosting: Host the SVG file on a secure (HTTPS) server.
XML structure: BIMI-compliant SVGs often contain minimal metadata and specific XML elements. Tools like Inkscape tend to produce more compliant files compared to Photoshop, which may output a more stripped-down XML that doesn't render correctly for BIMI validators.
For validating your SVG and certificate, and to understand more about BIMI requirements for SVG files, you can consult further resources.
Implementing Google Promotion Tab logos
Distinct from BIMI, the Google Promotion Tab logo is specifically for marketing emails within Gmail's Promotion tab. This feature helps your emails stand out in a crowded inbox by displaying your brand's logo directly in the tab's list view. It doesn't require a VMC or strict DMARC enforcement like BIMI, making it a more accessible option for many senders.
The implementation relies on adding schema.org microdata directly into the <body> section of your email's HTML. This microdata includes properties like schema.org/Organization and schema.org/EmailMessage, pointing to the URL of your logo. The logo itself can be a PNG or JPG, as long as it's publicly accessible.
This method provides a straightforward path to improve the visual appeal of your marketing campaigns in Gmail. For more insights on this, you can look into Gmail's Promotion Tab changes. If you're wondering how to display your logo specifically in Gmail inboxes, we have a detailed guide on displaying your logo in email inboxes.
Troubleshooting common display issues
Even with careful setup, you might encounter situations where your logo isn't displaying as expected. Here's a quick comparison of common troubleshooting areas for both BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos, along with specific advice for SVG file issues.
BIMI logo troubleshooting
DMARC policy: Ensure your DMARC policy is set to p=quarantine or p=reject. BIMI won't work with a p=none policy.
SVG file validation: Verify your SVG logo is in SVG Tiny PS format and accessible via HTTPS. Incorrect SVG format is a common cause of logos not appearing.
VMC issues: If using a VMC, confirm it's valid, correctly installed, and matches your domain and logo.
DNS propagation: Allow time for DNS changes to propagate globally after publishing your BIMI TXT record. This can take up to 48 hours.
Cache: Mailbox providers might cache BIMI records. If your logo isn't appearing, especially in Yahoo Mail, you might need to troubleshoot BIMI logo display issues.
Google Promotion Tab logo troubleshooting
Microdata errors: Double-check your schema.org microdata for typos or incorrect syntax. Use Google's Structured Data Testing Tool (though now largely integrated into Search Console) for validation.
Image URL: Ensure the image URL in your microdata is correct, publicly accessible, and uses HTTPS.
Image dimensions: While not as strict as BIMI SVG, optimal image dimensions (e.g., a square logo) are recommended for best display.
Deliverability: If your emails aren't consistently landing in the Promotion tab, or are going to spam, the logo won't display. Address any underlying deliverability issues.
For general BIMI issues, if your logo is still not showing after implementation, it's crucial to systematically check each step of the setup process. Sometimes, it's a simple DNS error or a caching issue. Our articles on why your BIMI logo isn't showing in Gmail and how to troubleshoot BIMI logo will provide further depth.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always use a robust BIMI validation tool to check your SVG file for compliance before deployment.
Prioritize achieving a DMARC policy of p=quarantine or p=reject before attempting BIMI implementation for successful logo display.
When creating SVGs, consider using Inkscape over Photoshop for better BIMI compliance and XML structure.
Double-check DNS entries for BIMI TXT records meticulously to avoid propagation delays or failures.
Host your BIMI SVG logo on a secure HTTPS server with a stable URL that is unlikely to change.
Regularly monitor your DMARC reports to ensure email authentication passes are consistent, which is crucial for BIMI.
Common pitfalls
Failing to convert your SVG to the exact SVG Tiny PS format can result in a blank or missing logo.
Incorrectly formatted DMARC records or a p=none policy will prevent your BIMI logo from appearing.
Not accounting for DNS propagation time, leading to premature troubleshooting attempts.
Using absolute positioning or external CSS within your SVG can break BIMI compliance.
Overlooking small typos in DNS entries or microdata, which can cause significant display problems.
Assuming a transparent SVG background is always acceptable; ensure the logo itself is visible against various email client backgrounds.
Expert tips
For BIMI, the key is strict adherence to the SVG Tiny PS specification; minor deviations can cause issues.
If your logo is not displaying, always check the underlying DMARC authentication first, as BIMI depends on it.
For Google Promotion Tab logos, ensure your microdata accurately reflects the organization and logo URL within the email body.
When debugging SVG issues, inspect the XML code directly to identify any non-compliant elements introduced by design software.
Remember that caching can delay logo updates, especially in Yahoo Mail; patience is sometimes required after changes.
Leverage online validators for both BIMI and structured data to catch errors before they impact recipients.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they successfully got their first BIMI logo working, highlighting the satisfaction of overcoming the technical challenges, especially with SVG issues.
2019-11-11 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says they also struggled with Inkscape for SVG creation and had broken BIMI records for a while, showing it's a common hurdle even for experienced professionals.
2019-11-11 - Email Geeks
Final thoughts on logo implementation
Implementing BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos are powerful steps towards enhancing your brand's presence in the inbox and building recipient trust. While BIMI offers a universally recognized standard for authenticated brand logos supported by major mailbox providers, Google's Promotion Tab provides a simpler, yet effective, way to improve visibility within Gmail's promotional section.
The common thread for both is the meticulous attention to detail, especially regarding SVG file requirements for BIMI and accurate microdata for the Promotion Tab. By following the guidelines for correct file formats, proper hosting, and robust email authentication, you can successfully display your brand's logo, ensuring your emails are not only delivered but also instantly recognizable and trusted.
Gmail and 
Yahoo Mail, provided strong email authentication (DMARC) is in place. The Google Promotion Tab logo, on the other hand, is specific to Gmail's Promotion tab, offering a simpler way for marketers to enhance their marketing emails' visibility. 
Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator without the correct export settings, often resulting in blank or transparent backgrounds despite the image being present. 
Google Promotion Tab logo is specifically for marketing emails within Gmail's Promotion tab. This feature helps your emails stand out in a crowded inbox by displaying your brand's logo directly in the tab's list view. It doesn't require a VMC or strict DMARC enforcement like BIMI, making it a more accessible option for many senders. 
