Quick tip - if you want clients with reliable, steady work and a way to hone your skills and build out a nice portfolio focus on design / interactive / marketing agencies and skip the local businesses. Mom and pop shops who would hire a web dev based on a business card are some of the WORST clients.
Make a nice portfolio site of whatever you have available, and compose a nice cold email being very honest about who you are ("I'm just starting freelancing and can do XYZ") and then look up every single marketing / design / interactive agency in a 100 mile radius and send them a cold email. Even if they don't have work you'll go in their list of available freelancers and may get a response a month later, or referrals etc.
Try doing the same for any sizable business in the area. Particularly the type that would have a dedicated marketing / interactive or software department.
Basically the goal is to lock down clients with steady work and that have infrastructure and experience dealing with fresh freelancers. Its going to give you far more bang for the buck/effort than handing out business cards door to door.
I think this a sound strategy in the beginning to keep the lights on. In the end, though, there's more glory when you land and maintain the clients you want with no middle man.
Make a nice portfolio site of whatever you have available, and compose a nice cold email being very honest about who you are ("I'm just starting freelancing and can do XYZ") and then look up every single marketing / design / interactive agency in a 100 mile radius and send them a cold email. Even if they don't have work you'll go in their list of available freelancers and may get a response a month later, or referrals etc.
Try doing the same for any sizable business in the area. Particularly the type that would have a dedicated marketing / interactive or software department.
Basically the goal is to lock down clients with steady work and that have infrastructure and experience dealing with fresh freelancers. Its going to give you far more bang for the buck/effort than handing out business cards door to door.