Article Marketing is quite effective if done correctly. The learning curve includes keyword research and some HTML; quality writing is a must.
Submitting articles to directories is a time consuming process but necessary.
There are many resources online from which to learn but I'll recommend 2 for your perusal:
Google:
Josh Spaulding
website-articles.net
Another option is outsourcing the work to freelance writers. Keep in my mind: quality over quantity. And cheap is not always best choice. Get referrals!
Good Luck!