Referrals is a big way to make the switch. You want to do such an awesome job for a client on Elance that they'll want to hire you. The best way to do this is to figure out a clients return on investment when hiring you. If they're hiring you for a contract worth $10,000 is the work you're doing going to make them at least $10,000? Is the work you're doing for them going to streamline a pain in their business that's worth $10,000 to solve?