One of the reasons why blogs have grown in importance so quickly, at least for companies, is that internet sales are exploding. Take a look at the latest ACNielsen survey that polled 21,000 consumers in 38 markets worldwide. It found that more than 325 million people have bought something on the Internet in the last month, while more than 627 million have done so at least once. In total, 97 percent of Germans have bought products online, followed by 96 percent of Austrians and 95 percent of the British. In other words, just about everyone. I’m just guessing, but most people sitting in front of a computer buying something also do a search to collect information about what they are getting - whether it is a CD or a gadget or whatever. Increasingly that search is going to turn up blog opionion - since what we most want to know is what other people think of something. The blogs are, in a sense, the atmosphere, in which you shop online. They are as important to companies as the look and feel of a shop or showroom in the old-economy. Which is why they are becoming crucial to determining sales. Companies used to spend a lot of time getting their showrooms or shops right. Now they should be spending a lot of time getting their blogs right - and making sure they know what other bloggers are saying about them.