A web site is a web site, but there are web site's that work and those that don't.
Oncarrot.com, like so many website developers, offer templates. The question you should ask them before proceeding, is: Are their pages created with frames or tables?
Frames cannot be penetrated by search engine spiders, so any content (text) will not be used for organic optimization, whereas text contained in tables, can. (Search engines look at frames, the same way they see images... as whole objects).
Secondly, ditch whatever text comes with your template and employ a professional writer to create your verbiage. Using www.Copyscape.com, you can see how many people share the same text on template sites and search engines actually penalize web sites, where text is duplicated (such as franchise sites).
Thirdly, when you create your 'keywords', make certain that those same keywords appear in the first paragraph of your Home page *AND* on your About page.
I pinged you with an email here a bit ago. Lets hop on a call and we'll dial in that strategy. I see some solid leads have already came into your account, sweet!
As far as the PPC vs. DM vs. other strategies question... I've seen people both fail miserably on PPC and do insanely great. And on the flip side... I've seen lots of people fail miserably on DM and do crazy great.
The main variables there are
the targeting (was their PPC setup correctly? was their DM list chosen correctly?)
the message on the marketing piece (was the website setup to perform backed by data and testing? was the DM copy and piece tested and proven?)
the tracking / followup (was the person able to accurately track and close the leads?)
We've seen some people who were bombing on PPC... move their site over to us and their PPC started working (just the change in the site performance).
As far as the market in Charleston, SC goes... that isn't a huge market so the lead flow of course won't be like it is in Phoenix or Dallas, but there are plenty of great deals in Charleston.
The biggie will be to make sure to...
Create location specific landing pages for each city / sub-market you'd buy in: This will help localize and focus your SEO and cast a wider net. If you'd buy on Isle of Palms... etc... create a page specifically for that. Reach out to support and we can guide you in the right direction.
Add your credibility to your site: It looks like you've already added some but we can help you dial it in further. Reach out and we'll nail it for ya man!
Nail your PPC budget based on the math: We've got a simple equation we teach our clients to figure out your target MAX cost per lead and your target PPC investment per deal... and use that to guide your PPC strategy. Hit me up and we can work through it together.
Go get 'em man!
As the market gets more and more competitive... with both more real estate agents in a sellers market and more investors (the upswing of the investor wave is in full effect since the market is good)... focusing on your credibility is a biggie and focusing on nailing your math and scaling up that PPC is crazy important. But the cool thing is the ones who nail those 2 things in this market will be much more well equipped to weather the market shifts ahead.