[mgkimsal]

Nearly all networking and word-of-mouth. Sounds trite, but... some suggestions:

1. Go to technical meetup/groups relating to technology you're interested in. Get known in that community.

2. Go to technical meetup/groups relating to technology you're NOT interested in. Get known in the community. With PHP and Java skills, I go to the .NET group a few times a year. When some of those folks I network with need PHP, I'm the first (and sometimes only) person they think of.

3. Go to industry group meetings that relate to a particular industry you want to serve - education, govt, manufacturing, retail, etc. Learn who's doing what, what their terms are, etc. Start making connections there.

4. Go out of your way to connect people in your existing network who you think might be able to benefit each other. Invite them for a mutual coffee, make introductions. See what happens.

5. If there's not any sort of meetup in your area that doesn't cater to your interests, start one, and publicize it. If it's successful, you'll be one of the 'go to' folks for that topic in your area.

There are many other steps and paths to follow; this is just one I point out to people.

For me and most of the folks I know this isn't a fast process, but it does have payoffs over the long haul.

[hoboon]

These are very good points. It's what I tried but it seems like I never met anyone. Just keep at it, I guess.

[mgkimsal]

It's partially a function of geography though - not every area is as amenable to this approach as others. And you may need to change approach if this really isn't working. If it's working for others in your area, and not you, it's probably something in what you're doing (or not doing). If no one is having success in your area, it's likely more geographic area.

Happy to take this offline at [e-mail] if you or others want to dig a bit deeper.

[dataminer]

I really like the second point, I am going to try it, thank you.

[mgkimsal]

Give me a followup report in a few weeks or month as to how some of this might have worked for you.

Also, on point #2, make a concerted effort to find unrelated people that you can refer work to. When I get .net projects crossing my path, I have 3 people I immediately can hand off to (depending on their schedule). Make part of the networking purpose at those meetings to find people you can refer work to first.