The short version
A signature image belongs to the message body. A BIMI logo is a signal a supporting receiver can use in its interface. Profile and contact photos are another mechanism again.
Identify where the image appears
When someone asks to “add our logo to email”, first ask them to point to the location. Is it inside the email content, beside the sender in the mailbox interface, or in a saved contact card? Those are different work requests.
An image in a signature travels with the message’s HTML. The receiver still controls how that content is displayed. A sender photo beside the subject line may instead reflect account settings, a contact entry, BIMI or another provider programme.
Send the request to the right owner
| Request | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Logo at the bottom of employee emails | Email signature or template management |
| Brand logo beside authenticated messages | BIMI readiness and receiver support |
| Photo for a person or account | Profile or contact settings |
A business can use all three. Completing one task does not automatically complete the others. Put a screenshot and intended recipient context in the brief to avoid delivering the wrong result.
Avoid misleading internal tests
A team member may already have your address saved with a photo. An internal account may also show directory artwork. That is useful for colleagues but weak evidence for what a new external customer sees.
Test with an external account where you can document the context and inspect the received message. Compare results across the relevant providers instead of assuming every image has the same source. If BIMI is the intended mechanism, check its public configuration as well as the screenshot.
Keep the visual identity consistent
Give designers a list of the surfaces in use and their constraints. A detailed wordmark that works in a large signature may be hard to recognise in a small sender avatar. Use approved variants and validate the BIMI artwork through its own process.
During a rebrand, track the signature, account imagery and BIMI changes separately. This makes apparently inconsistent screenshots easier to explain and helps the team find the correct owner when an old logo remains visible.
Sources & further reading
Provider guidance checked on . Requirements can change; check the original guidance when implementing. Planning checklists and examples are BIMI World’s editorial suggestions.