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Domain registration operator .CO Internet announced today that the company has registered the one millionth .CO domain name, less than a year after launching in July 2010.

.CO Internet thanks Overstock, Amazon and Twitter (among others) for the rapid growth. Overstock internationally rebranded its operation O.CO and the domain name has been featured across Web and Internet advertising, giving the .CO domain great visibility. The millionth .CO domain was registered at GoDaddy, which .CO Internet says is the largest retailer of .CO domain names globally.

Often when we talk about domain names and startups, it's in terms of selecting a good one. Having a good name for your startup may not be the key to your success, but it's still a critical piece and you certainly do want to choose wisely. The advice around picking a name is worth repeating, because you don't want to be stuck with a lousy name: Avoid long or impossible-to-remember names. Brainstorm and vet your ideas with friends (particularly those who know nothing about your service or product). And finally - and this may be the most important part - make sure the domain name is available and if there are similarly named sites already.

If you've been following our Weekend Reading series on Fridays for the last few weeks, you've noticed that we've been discussing the importance of personal branding for entrepreneurs. But branding is not only an important facet for individuals; for startups, branding is an essential step toward building a successful business. Mint founder Aaron Patzer, who speaks Tuesday at the Future of Web Apps Conference in Miami, Florida, recently discussed with CNET's Caroline McCarthy how he believes Mint's branding helped it become a breakout success.

ICANN, the not-for-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that has managed domain names on the Internet since 1998, just announced that it has reached a new deal with the US Department of Commerce that will allow it to operate as a more independent entity. Other governments and the private sector will now have a greater say in how domains will be managed. The Commerce Department will continue to hold a seat on ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee, but it's influence will now be on par with that of other members of the organization.