I responded to a different thread on the topic of
how employers pick freelancers. You can see that thread here.
If I was a freelance writer looking to establish myself in the field, here is how I would start out:
1) Buy my own domain name (a professional one) and launch a Wordpress website to promote my services.
2) I would use SEO and my homepage to target the phrase "freelance writer for hire"
3) I would put a real photo of myself on the homepage showing me dressed professionally and smiling
4) I would use the blog to publish samples of the work I am capable of doing
5) I would list my rates right on the website where they are easy to find. (That is the number one question everyone will want to know when they visit your site)
6) I would record a video of myself dressed professionally where I explain what services I offer. Publish the video on YouTube. Use SEO to target the phrase "freelance writer for hire" and try to get the YouTube video ranked high on Google.
7) I would join a few freelance writer forums and begin networking with my peers on there.
8) I would join LinkedIn and network with other freelance writers and business owners in the fields that I am most knowledgeable about.
9) I would use my blog to link out to places on the web where I have published any of my work.
10) I would try to get my friends at the forums I hang out at to "Like" and "Tweet" the articles and other things I publish for clients on the web.
11) I would have professional business cards made at somewhere like Vistaprint. The business cards would match my website design.
12) I would send personalized thank you cards to every new client who hired me for a project. I would include a business card. I would remind this person that I would absolutely love to get a referral from them if they know of anyone else who hires freelance writers.
13) Any time I got a referral from one of my previous clients I would hand write them another thank you card and mail it to them.
14) I would also be promoting my services at all of the various freelancer sites. But my main focus would be on attracting clients through my own website.
Doing those things alone would easily land you enough steady work to be a full time freelancer. It would take somewhere between 6 months to a year to get things really rolling. But, if you applied yourself and tried hard to please your clients, I think you would find success.
People want to do business with other people that they know, like and trust. So your goal is to introduce yourself to as many people in your target market as possible. That way they know you. That one factor alone already makes them much more likely to buy from you.
Then you want them to come to like you and trust you. If you are a decent person who is honest at heart, then they will automatically come to like you. And as long as you don't give them any reason to not trust you, then they will slowly come to trust you also.
Act professional. Be very responsive whenever they contact you. And be extremely dependable. (Don't over promise them something you can't deliver on.) Always do what you say you are going to do. You will succeed.