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VMC Defined

A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is a digital certificate issued by a Certification Authority (CA) that verifies the authenticity of a brand's logo and allows it to be displayed in email clients that support BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification).

To obtain a VMC, a brand must undergo a validation process with a trusted Certification Authority. This process ensures that the brand is legitimate and has the right to use the logo. Once the VMC is issued, it can be included in the brand’s DNS records, enabling email clients to display the verified logo alongside authenticated emails.

VMCs play a crucial role in enhancing email security and brand visibility by allowing verified logos to be displayed in email clients, fostering greater trust and engagement from recipients.

How to Use it in a Sentence

Implementing a VMC in your email marketing strategy can significantly enhance brand trust by displaying your verified logo in recipients' inboxes, leading to higher engagement rates.

Common FAQs

A VMC enhances email security and brand recognition by ensuring that your verified logo is displayed in recipients' inboxes. This increases trust and engagement, as recipients can easily identify and trust emails from your brand.

  1. Ensure your domain is authenticated with DMARC.
  2. Contact a trusted Certification Authority to apply for a VMC.
  3. Complete the validation process, proving your ownership of the brand and logo.
  4. Once issued, publish the VMC in your DNS records.

The validation process involves proving your ownership of the brand and the right to use the logo. This includes providing documentation and information to the Certification Authority to verify your brand's legitimacy.

Several major email clients, including Gmail and Yahoo Mail, support VMC and BIMI. As other email clients adopt BIMI, it's beneficial to stay updated on supported platforms.

While the VMC itself does not directly improve deliverability, the DMARC authentication required for VMC can positively impact email deliverability by reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam.

For more tips to improve email deliverability and sender reputation, check out these articles:

A VMC helps prevent phishing attacks by verifying the sender’s identity. Recipients can trust that emails displaying your verified logo are genuinely from your brand, enhancing overall email security.

The logo used for the VMC must be in SVG format and meet the specifications set by the Certification Authority. It should be your official, registered logo.

The renewal period for a VMC depends on the Certification Authority’s policies. Typically, certificates need to be renewed annually to ensure continued verification and security.

If your VMC application is denied, the Certification Authority will provide reasons and guidance on how to address the issues. You can reapply after resolving the identified problems.

A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is directly related to DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) because one of the key requirements for obtaining and using a VMC is having DMARC properly implemented and aligned on your domain. Here's how they relate:

  1. Email Authentication: DMARC ensures that emails sent from your domain are authenticated, meaning they have passed checks for SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). This authentication helps prevent email spoofing and phishing.
  2. VMC Prerequisite: To be eligible for a VMC, your domain must be DMARC-compliant. This means you must have a DMARC policy in place, which helps validate that your emails are genuinely sent from your domain.
  3. Trust and Security: Both DMARC and VMC work together to enhance email security and trust. DMARC provides the technical foundation for email authentication, while VMC leverages this authentication to display a verified brand logo in the recipient's inbox.
  4. Enhanced Brand Recognition: With DMARC ensuring your emails are authentic, a VMC further reinforces brand trust by showing your verified logo, making it easier for recipients to recognize and trust your emails.