I’ve written quite a bit about the subject of budgets and marketing.
To make intelligent decisions about marketing, you have to have a budget in mind. There’s a big difference between how you promote if you have a $1 million budget versus if you only have $1,000 to spend.
It should go without saying, but unfortunately, it needs not only to be said, but stressed:

Wishful thinking doesn’t make $1000 do the job of $3000.
Or $10000.

It’s easiest to engage in wishful thinking with website design, because there is always a cheaper way to get a website done.
But you aren’t going to get a professional website for an amateur price.
When you are spending money on marketing, it is important to assess how much you really need to spend for something. There are lots of sharks out there surfing the marketing waters for easy pickings.
Of course, most of them aren’t charging too much for something. They are charging for something worthless.
But, beyond that, you can pay way too much for marketing products and services.
It isn’t hard to sort this out.
The point is to face reality and don’t try and explain it away. Instead, adapt.
If you don’t have the money to do A properly, don’t do a lousy job of A. Figure out what the “B” is that you CAN afford, and do that.
If you can’t afford to paying the going rate for a Mercedes, don’t pay 1/3 the usual price because “it’s a great deal.”
Buy a Ford or a Toyota.
Things work out better that way.