Microsoft Adds Verified Icon and Email Promotion Features to Outlook.com

Microsoft is beta testing new features for Outlook.com to help brands and businesses expand their presence and promotion capabilities. The Microsoft business profile experience will offer customers the opportunity to become a verified business with Microsoft. A blue check mark will report Outlook.com emails from verified companies.

Trademarks will also be able to customize their business profiles for Outlook.com "and for other Microsoft products of the future," according to business.microsoft.com. Later in 2019, Microsoft will give businesses and brands a way to "get more visible positioning of your email, coupons, and promotions even before customers open your email."

Microsoft officials announced plans to create this new Outlook.com feature on October 2.

Companies interested in consumers and wishing to join the beta test can sign up and apply for a spot, which they might receive sometimes "over the next few months". During the beta period, customers will be able to claim and verify the ownership of their business profile. customize and manage the content contained in their profiles (including logos, photos, e-mail address, phone number, etc.). They will also be able to view their business profiles in Outlook.com when customers see their emails.

The beta version is free and open to companies and brands based in the United States only. Microsoft has not revealed how much this feature would cost the brands and / or when it would leave the beta.

Microsoft offers this program to consumers because it ultimately helps them "identify legitimate businesses in your inbox." The service will help them see the newsletters they have subscribed to and unsubscribe in one click. The service will also help users find promotions in their inbox more easily.

Microsoft indicates that these features will begin to be used by Outlook.com users in the United States "in the coming months".

I asked Microsoft if this feature is intended to replace the Microsoft Listings application, which their company is currently deleting. Microsoft Listings is an application for the publication of business information, described by Microsoft as "an online web presence management tool." A spokesman said no, and that the functionality of these two software was different.

I'm also curious if LinkedIn will appear in the contact / profile of this new Outlook.com experience. There is no mention of LinkedIn in the Microsoft blog or the company profile website.