Advertise.

* Tap your network. Post on social, bug old coworkers, ask friends and family. Know what skills you are selling and at what price.

* Build your brand. Create a website, LinkedIn, and social media accounts. Start blogging or posting regularly somewhere. Even if you don't get clients this way, it will increase your credibility.

* Reach out. Look through job postings and hiring sites. Cold email companies that you're interested in working with. Refine your elevator pitch. Join networking communities.

I listened to an indie hackers pod that had some person saying she got her clients often or mostly (at the early stages) by word of mouth.

Meaning

Could be _anybody_ you knew

Know

Talk to

See in passing

This girl had huge bubbly energetic personality

But I think the takeaway is that you can/should be in the habit of letting people know

Even people who are not in the business etc

They all know people, are married to people, etc