Summary
It can be perplexing when an email you send displays the wrong brand logo in the recipient's inbox, especially when your organization doesn't even have BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) configured. This issue frequently arises with providers like Yahoo Mail, which uses its own proprietary logic for displaying logos alongside or even instead of BIMI. This means a logo can be mistakenly associated with your domain due to factors like similar organization names or other industry data, leading to a misattribution. The core problem often boils down to a mailbox provider's internal system linking your email domain to an unrelated or similarly named entity with an existing logo or BIMI record.
Key findings
- Proprietary display logic: Yahoo Mail and other providers have their own internal systems for displaying logos, which operate independently of or in conjunction with BIMI.
- Mistaken identity: Misattribution can occur if your organization's name is similar to another entity that has a logo configured with the email provider, whether through BIMI or other means.
- BIMI's role: While a logo may appear without BIMI, implementing it correctly provides an authoritative source for your brand's logo, helping to prevent such misattributions.
- Support resolution: Direct engagement with the mailbox provider's support (e.g., Yahoo support) is often the most effective way to correct an incorrectly displayed logo.
Key considerations
- Implement BIMI: Even if a logo is showing up, establishing a proper BIMI record provides explicit instructions to mailbox providers about your official brand logo. Learn about the requirements and implementation steps for BIMI.
- Contact support: For issues like the wrong logo appearing, reaching out directly to the relevant mailbox provider's sender support team (e.g., Yahoo's sender support) is crucial.
- Verify authentication: Ensure your email authentication, including DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, is correctly set up, as these are prerequisites for BIMI and strong deliverability. More details on avoiding common BIMI pitfalls are available.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often find themselves in unique situations where brand logos in the inbox behave unexpectedly, particularly with providers like Yahoo that blend BIMI with their own proprietary display methods. Their experiences shed light on the common pitfalls and surprising workarounds involved in ensuring the correct brand image is consistently presented to recipients. The consensus points towards a need for both technical diligence and direct communication with service providers.
Key opinions
- Beyond BIMI: Many marketers have observed that Yahoo Mail utilizes its own unique methods to display logos, regardless of BIMI configuration, suggesting an internal matching system.
- Similarity leads to misattribution: A common hypothesis among marketers is that Yahoo can mistakenly link an organization's domain to a logo belonging to a similarly named entity.
- Support as a last resort (or first step): Marketers often find that direct engagement with Yahoo's support team is necessary and effective for resolving logo misattribution issues.
- Proactive BIMI benefit: Even when the problem isn't explicitly BIMI-related, implementing BIMI correctly can provide a clear and verifiable brand indicator to providers, aiding in troubleshooting.
Key considerations
- Account for proprietary systems: When troubleshooting logo display, be aware that not all providers rely solely on BIMI; some have their own criteria. Consider how to troubleshoot BIMI logo not displaying in Yahoo Mail.
- Brand similarity vigilance: Organizations with names or branding similar to others should be extra vigilant about potential logo misattributions.
- Prepare for support contact: Be ready to provide specific details about your domain, sending practices, and the incorrect logo when contacting support.
- Review SVG requirements: Ensure your logo adheres to strict SVG specifications for BIMI to minimize potential display issues, as some marketers report needing multiple versions.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks states that Yahoo also uses its own internal logic to display logos, indicating that BIMI isn't the sole factor. This proprietary 'sauce' can sometimes lead to unexpected logo appearances.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks observes that prominent companies like Costco and PGE have their logos displayed in Yahoo Mail without explicit BIMI configuration. This supports the idea that Yahoo has alternate methods for logo recognition and display.
What the experts say
Leading email deliverability experts confirm that while BIMI provides a standardized way to display brand logos, mailbox providers sometimes implement their own unique logic. This can lead to situations where logos are misattributed or displayed incorrectly, even without a formal BIMI setup. Experts emphasize that proper BIMI implementation is the ideal long-term solution, but direct engagement with mailbox provider support is a critical step for immediate resolution of such anomalies.
Key opinions
- Dual logic at play: Mailbox providers like Yahoo use their own proprietary algorithms in addition to BIMI to determine logo display.
- BIMI as the definitive fix: Implementing BIMI correctly on your sending domain is the most robust way to ensure the desired logo is shown, overriding potential misattributions.
- Support collaboration: Experts advise that mailbox provider support teams are typically willing and able to assist in untangling incorrect logo displays.
- Leverage BIMI with support: When contacting support, having a correctly configured BIMI record provides a strong reference point for them to verify your desired logo.
Key considerations
- Prioritize BIMI implementation: Even if a logo is appearing through other means, actively setting up BIMI is essential for long-term brand control. Understand how to implement BIMI for Gmail and Yahoo Mail.
- Engage provider support early: If an incorrect logo issue persists, contacting the mailbox provider's support (e.g., Yahoo's sender support) is often the most direct path to resolution.
- Comprehensive validation: Regularly validate your BIMI records and fix common errors to ensure continuous correct display.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks (Marcel Beckers) explains that while Yahoo displays BIMI logos, they still maintain proprietary logic for logo display. He advises reaching out to their support team with specific details for direct assistance in resolving any logo issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks (TVJames) suggests that properly implementing BIMI for the sending organization would likely resolve issues where an incorrect logo is appearing. This underscores BIMI's role in providing an authoritative brand indicator.
What the documentation says
Official BIMI documentation and related technical resources provide precise guidelines for logo display, emphasizing the critical role of strong email authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM) and strict adherence to SVG logo specifications. While these documents detail the ideal implementation, they implicitly acknowledge that variations in mailbox provider interpretation can occur, making full compliance essential for consistent brand visibility.
Key findings
- DMARC requirement: BIMI fundamentally requires a strong DMARC policy (p=quarantine or p=reject) to be in place for the sending domain.
- SVG format specifics: The logo must be in SVG Tiny 1.2 format, meeting specific size, aspect ratio, and content requirements (e.g., no external references).
- Verified mark certificate (VMC): For some mailbox providers (notably Gmail), a VMC issued by an accredited Certificate Authority is a mandatory component for logo display.
- DNS TXT record publication: The BIMI record is published as a DNS TXT record, specifying the location of the SVG logo file and the VMC (if applicable).
Key considerations
- SVG validation: It's crucial to validate your SVG logo against BIMI specifications using a dedicated tool to ensure compliance and prevent display errors. Understanding BIMI requirements for SVG files is key.
- Secure hosting: The SVG logo and VMC must be hosted on a secure (HTTPS) URL that is publicly accessible.
- Consistent alignment: Ensure the logo, VMC, and sending domain are all consistently aligned with the organization's verified identity.
- Cache considerations: Be aware that it can take time for mailbox providers to update their cache after BIMI record changes, as highlighted in documentation regarding Yahoo cache and SVG logo errors.
Technical article
Documentation from DuoCircle clarifies that for a brand logo to appear alongside emails, it is mandatory for the logo to be in SVG Tiny 1.2 format. Additionally, the logo must be clean, square, and adhere to a range of other stringent technical requirements for successful display.
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun states that BIMI is implemented as a DNS TXT record. When this record is correctly configured and published in the DNS, your brand's logo is expected to appear in the recipient's inbox next to the messages you send.
Related resources
15 resources
Related pages
How to troubleshoot BIMI logo not displaying in Yahoo Mail?
What are the requirements and implementation steps for BIMI?
How to set up BIMI and Google Promotion Tab logos, and troubleshoot SVG issues?
How do I validate BIMI records and fix common errors?
How do I display my logo in email inboxes, particularly Gmail, and what are the BIMI requirements?
How do I implement BIMI and get my logo to show in Gmail and Yahoo Mail?
Why is my BIMI logo not showing up on Yahoo?
A guide to validating your BIMI SVG and certificate
Which email clients actually support BIMI?
A simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM
