> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.migma.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inbox Icons

> Display your brand logo or personal photo in recipients' inboxes to improve open rates and brand recall

Adding your brand logo or personal photo to emails can significantly enhance your email marketing effectiveness. Research shows that visual identifiers in the inbox improve brand recognition, increase open rates by up to 21%, and strengthen recipient trust in your communications.

***

## Why Inbox Icons Matter

Having your company logo or personal photo appear in recipients' inboxes offers several important advantages:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Enhanced Brand Recognition" icon="eye">
    Visual identifiers help your emails stand out in crowded inboxes, creating immediate recognition even before recipients open your messages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Higher Open Rates" icon="chart-line">
    Emails with recognizable logos or photos can increase open rates by up to 21%, significantly improving campaign performance
  </Card>

  <Card title="Improved Trust" icon="shield-check">
    Recipients feel more confident about email legitimacy when they can see a familiar logo or face, reducing concerns about potential phishing attempts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Professional Appearance" icon="star">
    A consistent visual identity across all communications presents a more polished, professional brand experience
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Setup Options

There are two primary ways to add your logo or photo to emails, varying in complexity and coverage:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Email Client Setup (Easy)">
    This approach lets you add icons to individual email providers by setting up profiles, with support for both company logos and personal photos/headshots.

    **Advantages:**

    * Supports both personal photos and company logos
    * No additional costs beyond basic accounts
    * Simple setup process with minimal technical skill

    **Limitations:**

    * Must set up separately for each email provider
    * Limited to supported email clients only
    * No verification or trust indicators
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="BIMI (Advanced)">
    Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) is an email specification that allows your logo to appear automatically across supporting email clients.

    **Advantages:**

    * Automatic display across all supporting clients
    * Verified mark option adds trust indicator
    * Single setup covers multiple providers

    **Limitations:**

    * Requires strict DMARC policy
    * VMC certificate costs \~\$1,500/year
    * More complex technical setup
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Gmail Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log In">
    Log in to the Google/Gmail account associated with your sending address
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access Account Settings">
    Click your profile icon in the top-right corner, then click "Manage your Google Account"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Personal Info">
    Select "Personal info" from the left menu
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update Profile Picture">
    Under "Profile," click on your profile picture and upload your logo or photo
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Changes">
    Click "Set as profile photo"
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Gmail displays icons in the mobile app (including push notifications) and inside opened emails on desktop, but not in the inbox list view on desktop.
</Note>

***

## Apple Mail (Branded Mail)

Apple Branded Mail lets you display your logo as an avatar in Apple Mail inboxes on supported devices (iOS, iPadOS, macOS). This increases brand recognition and trust for recipients using Apple Mail.

<Warning>
  Apple Branded Mail only works in Apple Mail on recent iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions. Your logo will not show in other mail clients or older Apple Mail versions.
</Warning>

### Prerequisites

* Apple Business Connect account ([Sign up here](https://businessconnect.apple.com))
* DMARC configured in your DNS records (part of your email authentication setup)
* Company identification number for Apple verification

### Setup Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Configure DMARC">
    DMARC is an email authentication record required for Apple Branded Mail. If you've completed DNS setup for your email service provider, you may already have DMARC configured.

    You may need to update your DMARC policy to `p=quarantine;` or `p=reject;` and `pct=100`.

    **Example DMARC record:**

    ```
    v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; pct=100; rua=mailto:dmarcreports@example.com
    ```

    <Tip>
      If you're updating your DMARC policy, test your email deliverability first to ensure everything is working as expected.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Company Details">
    After creating your Apple Business Connect account:

    * Enter your company address, name, and other required details
    * Select the **Branded Mail** option in the sidebar
    * Add your brand name and website
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Your Logo">
    Apple requires the logo to be at least **1024 x 1024 px** in `.png`, `.heif`, or `.jpeg` format.

    Upload your logo in the Branded Mail section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Your Domain(s)">
    Specify the domains or email addresses where you want your logo to appear.

    <Note>
      You can register your logo for your root domain or a subdomain. If you don't set a specific logo for a subdomain, the root domain logo will automatically display for any email sent from your subdomains.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Your Company">
    * Provide your company identification number (e.g., Federal Taxpayer ID in the US, local equivalent elsewhere)
    * Apple will prompt you to add a DNS record to verify you control your domain
    * Follow their instructions to complete this step
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apple Review">
    Apple will review your submission. This process may take up to **seven business days**.

    Once approved, you'll receive an email notification and your logo will display in Apple Mail for supported recipients.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  This only works with commercial domains (not gmail.com, etc.) and requires properly configured DNS records.
</Info>

***

## Outlook Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log In">
    Log in to your Outlook account
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access Profile">
    Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select "My profile" or "View account"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit Profile">
    Click on "Edit profile"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Image">
    Upload your logo or photo
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save changes
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Outlook primarily displays icons in the mobile app and inside opened emails on desktop.
</Note>

***

## Yahoo Mail Setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log In">
    Log in to your Yahoo account
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access Account">
    Click your profile icon and select "Account info"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Personal Info">
    Navigate to "Personal info"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update Image">
    Click on your profile image and upload your logo or photo
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save changes
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Yahoo Mail offers more comprehensive icon support, displaying them in both the message list and message view.
</Note>

***

## Gravatar Setup

Gravatar is used by several email clients including Thunderbird, Airmail, and Postbox.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Account">
    Go to [Gravatar.com](https://gravatar.com) and create an account or log in
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Image">
    Add your brand logo or photo
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Emails">
    Verify the email addresses you're sending from
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your icon will now display in clients that use Gravatar.

***

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Use Consistent Branding" icon="palette">
    Use the same logo or photo across all email platforms to maintain brand consistency. Recipients should immediately recognize your brand regardless of which email client they use.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Optimize Image Quality" icon="image">
    * Use high-resolution images (at least 1024x1024 for Apple)
    * Ensure logos are clear and readable at small sizes
    * Use PNG format for logos with transparency
    * Test how your image appears at thumbnail size
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Set Up All Available Methods" icon="list-check">
    For maximum coverage, configure inbox icons across all platforms your recipients use:

    * Gmail profile
    * Apple Branded Mail
    * Outlook profile
    * Yahoo profile
    * Gravatar
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Keep DNS Records Updated" icon="server">
    For Apple Branded Mail and BIMI, maintain proper email authentication:

    * SPF record
    * DKIM signing
    * DMARC policy

    These also improve overall email deliverability.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Send Campaign" icon="paper-plane" href="/campaigns/send-campaign">
    Send your first campaign with inbox icons
  </Card>

  <Card title="Track Results" icon="chart-line" href="/campaigns/track-results">
    Monitor open rates and engagement
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email Service Providers" icon="server" href="/integrations/email-service-providers">
    Configure your sending domain
  </Card>

  <Card title="Preference Center" icon="sliders" href="/audience/preference-center">
    Manage subscriber preferences
  </Card>
</CardGroup>