The sum, covering January 2013 to October 2014, included money spent on in-house staff, third party companies and advertising agencies.
Some residents said this was a "waste of money" and the States would need to "measure its effectiveness".
Deputy Heidi Soulsby said when it comes to advertising "we've got to think in a modern way - this is the digital age".
Ms Soulsby said currently States accounts do not show what is spent on advertising and promotion.
She said the States hoped to produce a set of accounts that were "more meaningful and transparent".
The figures, from an access to public information request, showed in-house staff costs came to just over £397,000 for the time period.
The cost of third party public relation companies was just over £300,000 with two thirds going to tourism marketing spend and other promotional work.
The total cost for advertising was just over £1.1million, which includes legally required adverts. Nearly £800,000 of the advertising cost was for States recruitment and advertising purposes.
Guernsey's States chief executive, Paul Whitfield, said £300,000 being spent on third party public relations firms would be subject to a States-wide procurement policy.
He said civil service public relations roles could be changed to reduce costs for taxpayers.
Adam Riddell, chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Channel Islands, said any organisation needed to justify its spend on public relations activity, and that justification needed to be based on "whether that spend has produced the desired outcomes".

Germany's Lisa Brennauer was edged into second as Vos came third to move three seconds clear of Christine Majerus of Luxembourg.
Majerus, who came fifth, had pipped Vos to victory on the opening leg of the five-stage race on Wednesday.
Lizzie Armistead was the highest-placed Briton, in 18th, on the 140km ride from Atherstone to Stratford-Upon-Avon.
The 27-year-old reigning world, Commonwealth and national road race champion took the Best British Rider jersey as she continues her preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Find out how to get into cycling with our special guide.
1. Amy Pieters (Ned/Wiggle High5) 3hrs 36mins 55secs
2. Lisa Brennauer (Ger/Canyon-SRAM) same time
3. Marianne Vos (Ned/Raboliv) same time
4. Gracie Elvin (Aus/Orica-AIS) same time
5. Christine Majerus (Lux/Boel-Dolmans) same time
6. Emma Johansson (Swe/Wiggle High5) same time
7. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita/Wiggle High5) same time
8. Floortje Mackaij (Ned/Liv-Plantur) same time
9. Leah Kirchmann (Can/Liv-Plantur) same time
10. Anna van der Breggen (Ned/Raboliv) same time
Selected others
18. Lizzie Armitstead (GB/Boels-Dolmans) same time
19. Dani King (GB/Wiggle High5) same time
32. Laura Massey (GB/Drops) +1min 42secs
45. Jessie Walker (GB/British National) same time
46. Rebecca Durrell (GB/Drops) +4mins 57secs
48. Annasley Park (GB/British National) same time
53. Grace Garner (GB/British National) same time
1. Marianne Vos (Ned/Raboliv) 7hrs 1min 26secs
2. Christine Majerus (Lux/Boel-Dolmans) +3secs
3. Amy Pieters (Ned/Wiggle High5)) +7secs
4. Lisa Brennauer (Ger/Canyon-SRAM) +11secs
5. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita/Wiggle High5) +13secs
6. Leah Kirchmann (Can/Liv-Plantur) same time
7. Gracie Elvin (Aus/Orica-AIS) +14secs
8. Lizzie Armitstead (GB/Boels-Dolmans) +16secs
9. Floortje Mackaij (Ned/Liv-Plantur) +17secs
10. Emma Johansson (Swe/Wiggle High5) same time
The States of Guernsey spent £1.8m on PR and advertising over 22 months, figures released to the BBC show.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Marianne Vos moved into the overall lead at the Women's Tour as her Dutch compatriot Amy Pieters won stage two.