Lecturer in the Product Design program at Stanford University. EIR @ Innovation Endeavors. Co-founder of Wetpixel. Product designer, surfer & father.
I think to answer this effectively, we need to know a little bit more about your business. But as a consultant and freelancer, on and off, for the past 13 years, I can say without a doubt that if you are in a service-based business, you are most likely to get your first client (and probably most of your clients, period) with a referral from within your network: who in your family, your friends, your past colleagues, has a connection to your ideal client? Which of them might know of a person or business in need of your services? Seek these people out and let them know that you'd like an introduction.