Dotcoms defined the early days of the internet. Businesses in virtually every industry moved quickly to establish a presence online, and before long, a new type of business model emerged: the dotcom company.

Dotcom businesses were essentially online-only companies; their success was linked to the continued growth and use of the internet and the number of people with access to it. These businesses were built on an advertising business model in which they earned revenue through the sale of either digital or physical products, ads, services, and subscriptions.

Not all dotcoms sold products or services directly. Some focused on building software, platforms, and services or products within a market. These companies leveraged the internet to create new industries and ways of doing business. Companies like Amazon, eBay, Google, and Craigslist are iconic examples of dotcoms.

Despite their success, the dotcom bubble burst in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Excessive speculation, poor investors and business models, and the emergence of a dotcom-resistant business climate meant that many of these companies failed. The dotcom era left a lasting impact on the way businesses operate, however. Companies that weathered the crash realized they would need to rethink their approach to the online world to remain successful.

In the present day, many dotcoms remain in operation; however, these companies have adapted to the evolving landscape of the internet. Businesses now often utilize a variety of digital channels and platforms to market to and build relationships with customers, as well as invest in online tools that improve user experience.

It is clear that the impact of dotcoms is still seen and felt today in terms of the way businesses operate online. While the original dotcoms are no more, their legacy remains in the form of the digital world’s current successes.