Re: I am not an expert on any of this (except the Wonders of AllWebCo)...

>> I don't own any domains

Sorry, I didn't pay close enough attention to the previous threads.  I thought there was some talk about transferring your domain, but if all you have to do is order a new one, that's even easier.

> How did you do your site in the first place?

>> earthlink templates

Are you allowed to use their templates anywhere but on their hosting? 

I could be wrong, but I think you need to know that.  If not, I think you're going to have to put your content into another template, and I can't help you with that because I code my own pages manually (not always the best plan).

> You must have the files on your
> computer, right?

>> Right

If you're free to use the same templates, you just have to make sure you have every last file on your computer, create directories, and upload your files.

On you're website, you'll create folders (directories) to organize just like you do on your own hard drive, and you dump your files into the correct folders.

For example, all my giraffe files go into my giraffe folder...

http://www.americazoo.com/giraffe

and all my giraffe pictures link to the picture folder inside my giraffe folder...

http://www.americazoo.com/giraffe/giraffe-pics

and from inside my giraffe directory, if I want to link to the main store, then I link to pages (files) within my main store directory

http://www.americazoo.com/store

I really shouldn't talk anymore, because I'm guessing you're going to do this with templates and I know nothing about that.  On my own site, I would go in and manually point my links to the right places (very easy even for the technically challenged, but you have to have a basic knowledge of creating links in HTML; tons of easy instructions available if you do a Google search for this),

AllWebCo provides some basic templates but I have never used them.

>> This is where I get lost, I know nothing about FTP

It's a program that shows your hard drive folders and files on the left side and the directories and files on your website on the right side.

You connect to your website using all the default settings and the username (i.e., stainedglassbycarla) and password (that you choose), then you drag your files from left to right to put them on your website.

If you look at CuteFTP, you can get an idea how it works.

>> I don't need it to work with my earthlink site

Because it's going through their system, but once you strike out on your own, you'll be uploading your own files to your own website.

>> So I shouldn't buy my domain for Allwebco- again this is where I get confused

I register all my domains through AllWebCo, but that's a personal choice.

>> You make it all sound so easy

It is.  It's terrifying at first (actually it's so terrifying that there have been times when I've had to be completely away from it for months and I'm scared spitless to go back because I think I've forgotten everything), but once the light comes on, it's incredibly easy.

>> That's right, I am up to 680 visitors this month. Then I would have to go to
>> all my links and redirect them to my new site too.

You don't have to worry about that right away if you actually redirect one site to another (i.e., when somebody goes to carlasoldsite.earthlink.com, they never see it; they are transported directly to stainedglassbycarla.com).  It's called "parking."

If you can't do that with Earthlink, then you can put up a simple page that links to the new site.  It's free, so there's no reason not to keep it there.  In fact, there's no reason not to keep a few pictures there so they can see the quality of your work when they land, then click the "we have moved" link.

>> Yes, I'm still a little confused on buying the domain and hosting from the
>> same co, some have said not to and others say it is fine. I guess it depends
>> on the co.

I believe it depends on the company.  Like I said, I have bought piles of domains through AllWebCo, and I've opened and closed many sites over the years without ever having a problem of any kind... quite the contrary, they've saved me from myself in both departments (registering and hosting) over and over and OVER again.

I know you don't really want to know anything about HTML, but for myself, I couldn't possibly do this with only templates.  I feel I have to be able to go in and tweak when I want to.  I really think just the most basic knowledge is an absolute necessity.

Luv,