It's not if you have the right business model and take consistent action...Then make adjustments for improving the results.
Right, PPC advertisement seems to be immediate. Maybe it's just SEM and branding that is a bit slow, but any site can see immediate results if they have the money to spend.
article marketing is very saturated...many submit, few read... it may be working for those that have been doing it for years... just like anything, too much of it is not good for anyone...
It is only saturated in certain markets, and only if you submit to the same place everyone else does. Many people read if you put the article where readers go to find information on their hobbies, problems, and dreams. Few people read if you stick them in a generic holding tank.
If you don't want to spend money for marketing, it will be slow. But if are ready to invest into your marketing process, it will be much faster. IMO a paid marketing gives effect faster, but it's acting period is shorter as compared with free marketing ways.
It's true! Success doesn't happen over a night but you can't wait too long either. You need money to make money and invest on necessary tools to help with your marketing.
I can say that marketing is a regular process, because it looses its efficience without regularity of the measurements.