Mark Certificates for Email Identity and Brand Trust

Mark certificates allow organizations to display their brand logo in supported email clients, giving recipients a clear way to identify legitimate messages and recognize your brand. This strengthens brand identity, improves inbox visibility, and builds trust with every send.

Sectigo offers two types of mark certificates: Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) and Common Mark Certificates (CMCs). Both support BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) and require DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) enforcement. These certificates improve email security, deliverability, and brand protection by providing visual authentication that helps reduce the risk of phishing and spoofing attacks.

Choose the right mark certificate for your brand

Selecting the correct mark certificate depends on your verification needs and trademark status. Both of our solutions meet high security standards and deliver consistent brand recognition.

Recommended

Verified Mark Certificates

Verified Mark Certificate
  • Requires a registered trademark for logo
  • Triggers Gmail’s blue checkmark beside sender
  • Offers highest level of visual trust and brand protection (full BIMI compliance)
  • Helps enterprise level brands reinforce authenticity and engagement

Common Mark Certificates

Common Mark Certificate
  • Ideal for businesses without a registered trademark
  • Displays a brand logo in email inboxes of BIMI-supporting providers (basic BIMI compliance)
  • More affordable entry point to email branding
  • Fast deployment (5-10 days)

Benefits of Mark Certificates

Mark certificates deliver the core benefit of brand recognition, with studies showing that displaying logos in inboxes can increase open rates by 21%, improve brand recall by 18%, and boost purchase likelihood by 34%.

Boost brand visibility in inboxesProminently display your brand's verified logo in recipients' inboxes. This helps your brand stand out and maintain a consistent, recognizable presence while confirming message legitimacy.
Protect against phishing and spoofingSafeguard email recipients against common attacks such as phishing and spoofing. Mark certificates work with DMARC authentication to prevent attackers from impersonating your domain. Recipients can more easily identify legitimate emails and avoid those without verified logos.
Compatible with BIMI-supported clientsCMCs are recognized by major email providers like Gmail and Yahoo, offering seamless compatibility across platforms that support BIMI logo display.
Increase open rates and engagementBrand recognition and credibility give recipients confidence to open your emails. Mark certificates help messages stand out, supporting higher open rates, stronger engagement, and improved customer loyalty over time.
BIMI complianceMark certificates support compliance with the BIMI standard by aligning with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These standards ensure that only verified senders display brand logos within email inboxes.
Support for all business sizesMark certificates offer flexible verification options. Whether or not your organization has a registered trademark, they provide logo validation and a way to display your brand in inboxes.

Understanding CMCs

Common Mark Certificates do not require registered trademarks, but do require a logo that’s been in public use for 12+ months. This is a faster, more affordable option for getting your logo displayed in email inboxes. They leverage basic BIMI standards, and require proper DMARC, SPF, and DKIM configurations.

Understanding VMCs

Verified Mark Certificates require legally registered trademarks and then display those trademarked logos within email inboxes. These high-trust certificates enable the Gmail blue checkmark, providing a clear signal of email authenticity. Many businesses favor VMCs, but these are especially compelling to recognizable brands within highly regulated sectors. The validation process takes longer since trademark ownership must be verified.

Why choose Sectigo?

The Market Leader

Over 700,000 Customers

Security at scale

24/7 Full Service Support

Need help?

Need help making a purchase? Contact us today to get your certificate issued right away.

Live chat

Call us today

Related Resources