Summary
The prevailing reasons for the appearance of an incorrect BIMI logo in emails include issues related to email provider-specific logic (particularly with Yahoo), caching problems, misconfigured DNS records, problems with the SVG file itself (invalid syntax, accessibility), improperly configured email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) issues. Resolving these issues involves contacting email provider support, verifying and correcting DNS records and SVG configurations, addressing caching problems, ensuring DMARC policies are correctly set, and validating/reissuing the VMC.
Key findings
- Provider Logic Overrides: Yahoo (and possibly other providers) may use proprietary logic that overrides BIMI in certain situations, leading to incorrect logo display.
- Caching Issues: Email clients and Yahoo's servers might cache outdated or incorrect logos, causing mismatches.
- DNS Configuration Errors: Incorrectly configured DNS records, particularly the pointer to the SVG file, are a common culprit.
- SVG File Problems: Invalid SVG syntax, accessibility problems, or incorrect MIME types can prevent the logo from displaying correctly.
- Authentication Protocol Issues: Incorrectly configured SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records (especially DMARC policies not set to 'quarantine' or 'reject') can hinder BIMI implementation.
- VMC Validation Failures: An expired, invalid, or incorrectly associated VMC can lead to the wrong logo being displayed or no logo at all.
- Company Name Similarity: Confusion can arise when multiple companies share similar names, leading email providers to associate the wrong logo.
Key considerations
- Contact Provider Support: Engage with email provider support, especially Yahoo, to address provider-specific logic issues and correct logo associations.
- Verify DNS Records: Thoroughly check and correct BIMI DNS records to ensure accurate pointers to the valid SVG file.
- Validate SVG Files: Ensure the SVG file is valid, accessible, optimized, and served with the correct MIME type (image/svg+xml).
- Address Caching Problems: Clear email client or server-side caches to force the display of the correct, up-to-date logo.
- Configure DMARC Correctly: Set DMARC policies to 'quarantine' or 'reject' to enable BIMI to function as intended.
- Validate VMC: Verify the VMC's validity, check its association with the domain, and reissue if necessary.
- Monitor Domain Reputation: Proactively monitor domain reputation and work with ISPs to resolve any misassociations.
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
The appearance of an incorrect BIMI logo in emails can stem from various factors related to email provider logic, caching, DNS configuration, SVG file issues, and VMC validation. Resolving this often involves contacting email provider support, verifying DNS records and SVG file configurations, addressing caching problems, and ensuring DMARC policies are correctly implemented.
Key opinions
- Provider Logic: Yahoo and potentially other providers use proprietary logic alongside BIMI, which can sometimes lead to incorrect logo displays.
- Caching Issues: Email clients or Yahoo's servers might be caching old or incorrect logos, causing mismatches.
- Similar Names/Logos: Companies with similar names or logos can be mistakenly associated, particularly in Yahoo's systems.
- SVG Configuration: Incorrect SVG file paths in DNS records, invalid SVG syntax, or improper SVG MIME types can cause logo display issues.
- DMARC Policy: Incorrect DMARC settings (not set to 'quarantine' or 'reject') can contribute to BIMI display problems.
- Reverse DNS: Incorrect Reverse DNS records may cause the wrong company to be associated with the sender's IP address.
Key considerations
- Contact Provider Support: Reaching out to Yahoo or the relevant email provider's support team is often necessary to resolve logo mismatches, especially when proprietary logic is involved.
- Verify DNS Records: Thoroughly check BIMI DNS records and ensure they accurately point to the correct and valid SVG file.
- Check SVG File: Validate the SVG file for errors, ensure it is optimized, publicly accessible, and served with the correct MIME type.
- Address Caching: Attempt to clear email client or server-side caches to ensure the latest logo is displayed.
- Monitor Domain Reputation: Keep an eye on domain reputation and work with ISPs to correct any misassociations.
- DMARC Settings: Ensure DMARC policies are correctly configured to 'quarantine' or 'reject' to enable BIMI functionality.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailGeeks (via ReallyGoodEmails) mentions seeing an instance of a logo mismatch and found that it was an old logo cached by Yahoo. Resolved after contacting support with the correct SVG.
27 Jul 2021 - EmailGeeks Slack Community (via ReallyGoodEmails)
Marketer view
Email marketer from Twitter suggests checking the SVG file's validity. Make sure it doesn't contain any errors or unsupported features. Also, ensure the SVG is publicly accessible and served with the correct MIME type (image/svg+xml).
22 Feb 2023 - Twitter
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
The appearance of an incorrect BIMI logo in emails typically stems from incomplete or incorrect BIMI setup, leading to issues with SVG files, DNS records, or Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs). Implementing BIMI correctly, validating the SVG, checking DNS propagation, and verifying the VMC are crucial steps to resolving the problem. Email provider support may be needed to resolve any untangling of incorrect logos.
Key opinions
- Incomplete BIMI Setup: Properly implementing BIMI is often the key to resolving incorrect logo issues. This includes having valid SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in place.
- SVG Issues: Problems with the SVG file itself, such as incorrect formatting or association, can cause the wrong logo to display.
- DNS Problems: Incorrect DNS record settings or propagation delays can lead to BIMI failing and incorrect logo display.
- VMC Validation: Issues with the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), such as invalidity or misassociation with the domain, can prevent the correct logo from showing.
Key considerations
- Complete BIMI Implementation: Ensure all aspects of BIMI (DMARC, SPF, DKIM, and VMC) are correctly set up.
- SVG Validation: Validate the SVG file to ensure it is properly formatted and associated with your brand.
- DNS Verification: Check DNS records and confirm proper propagation of BIMI-related entries.
- VMC Verification: Verify the validity and correct association of the VMC with your domain.
- Contact Support: If issues persist, contacting email provider support (like Yahoo) may be necessary to untangle logo associations.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that BIMI relies on a combination of DMARC, SPF, DKIM, and a Verified Mark Certificate. The wrong logo can appear if the SVG file specified in the DNS record is incorrect or if there are issues with the VMC validation process. They recommend checking the DNS record and ensuring the VMC is properly issued and associated with the correct domain.
24 Aug 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares that properly implementing BIMI would likely fix the issue of incorrect logos appearing.
11 Feb 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
The documentation consistently indicates that incorrect BIMI logo display is due to misconfigurations in DNS records, problems with the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), or improperly configured email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Resolving this requires validating the BIMI setup, ensuring the VMC is valid and current, and that authentication protocols are correctly configured, and the DMARC policy is set to 'quarantine' or 'reject'.
Key findings
- DNS Misconfiguration: Incorrectly configured DNS records, particularly those related to the BIMI SVG file location, are a common cause of logo display issues.
- VMC Problems: An invalid, expired, or incorrectly issued VMC can lead to the wrong logo being displayed or no logo at all.
- Authentication Issues: Improperly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, especially if the DMARC policy isn't set to 'quarantine' or 'reject', can hinder BIMI functionality.
Key considerations
- Validate BIMI Setup: Use BIMI validator tools to verify the DNS record and VMC.
- Check VMC Status: Ensure the VMC is valid, current, and properly associated with the domain.
- Configure Authentication: Verify that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured and that the DMARC policy is set to 'quarantine' or 'reject'.
- Reissue VMC: If the logo has changed, or the VMC was incorrectly issued, contact the VMC provider to reissue the certificate.
- Contact Support: If problems persist, contact the email provider or VMC provider for further assistance.
Technical article
Documentation from Fastmail notes that BIMI requires a Verified Mark Certificate for security. If the VMC is expired or invalid, the logo may not display correctly or the wrong logo could be shown if the older VMC was associated with incorrect info. Ensure your VMC is current and properly issued.
8 Jul 2021 - Fastmail Website
Technical article
Documentation from DigiCert explains that a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) confirms ownership of the logo. If an incorrect logo shows, it could be because the VMC hasn't been updated after a logo change, or the incorrect VMC was issued to the domain. They suggest contacting the VMC provider to reissue the certificate with the correct logo.
13 Jan 2023 - DigiCert Website
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