As someone who works in PR, there's a disconnect between what a literary PR will charge and what the author paying can reliably get from it. Just as I can see a painting I love but what the artist wants and what I can pay are objectively fine - they're just not the same. Publicity needs to be seen as bread on the waters, a support for marketing not a substitute, and actually, something that feels good when it comes off and gives you something to talk about.
As someone who works in PR, there's a disconnect between what a literary PR will charge and what the author paying can reliably get from it. Just as I can see a painting I love but what the artist wants and what I can pay are objectively fine - they're just not the same. Publicity needs to be seen as bread on the waters, a support for marketing not a substitute, and actually, something that feels good when it comes off and gives you something to talk about.
Some basics you can do yourself BTW