What to do: - Approach potential clients - Reach out to people, start getting used to it. Even if it doesn't go anywhere, get in the habit.
- Reach out to old colleagues for no reason than catching up. - End goal: Build relationships. Build Trust.
As far as where to get your first clients, I've had real world success with the following methods:
- Mailing lists A lot of times people ask on mailing lists when they need help with something. Every once in a while, you'll get an email from someone with some work they need done. If you've been part of the mailing list a long time, you can approach them as: Hey, I'm xyz. I've been part of mailing-A for long time. I am (insert why you're suited to help) Ask to move the discussion offline to a phone call.
- Meetups Meeting someone here already shows you care/know the topic at hand. You can see them face to face. Socialize without agenda. Towards the end and beginning, listen for announcements for work/jobs. Approach them after the meeting.
- Recruitment agencies. Yes, I know you said freelancing but these agencies are hubs of work to be done. It's just a matter of how you position your relationship with client and recruitment agency. It's a good way to expand your network circle. Best time to make a sale is when you don't need to make a sale.
It will be easier to approach potential clients in similar industries with
"Hey I work for client-a in your industry. I see you do great at X. I'd like to
reach out and pick your brain if possible."
This will open the conversation.
My background/experience: I have more work than I can handle at the moment. (that's with only a handful of clients as I'm a 1man band.) Had to figure out the business parts myself through trial and error.