How did some of you get started in freelance work?

hey deker! can you be my boss? i'm kidding...

but, that one smart person(man?/gurl?)...

i agree with the business cards; online porfolio; dressing/acting the part; researching about your potential client; pretty much everything what deker posted...

however, creating alliances with other designers that can compliment your skills may help you... and possibly open doors to create a creative design group or affiliation...
example:

web designer(html/css/javascript/photoshop/illustrator)
the guy that holds the page together, or atleast some of it
...
teamed with...
...
web developer(php/asp/perl/vbsript/etc...)
database maker/guestbook thread creator/email controller/techy
...
and a...
...
flash developer(animation/presentation/actionscript)
thorne is your side(kidding)/
...
may make a pretty damn good website that good rival any major corporation... providing that their vision and ability to collaborate is above average...

some people don't mix... others gel effortlessly...

i'm a web designer, not a developer, i am always looking for a developer to help me out...

remember, if all you are doing is trying to learn everything... that's all you'll be doing...