Targeted links are when other sites link to yours. Other releveant/related sites that is, as those links are most valuable rather than links from unrelated sites.
Article marketing is when you write and submit articles to directories, websites, forums etc which contain a link back to your own site. This is a fantastic way to get traffic and one of the easiest.
Sounds like you need to learn the very basics in which case the Newbies forum will be a good read for you
