Phone calls and personal meetings will get you a LOT further than e-mails or other online communication.
A good portfolio is VERY important, to show potential clients exactly what you're capable of and how versatile you are.
I share your frustration Mohammed, it's a difficult industry to get a good start in, but if you're talented and capable you can make a good living off it.
Try and speak to local businesses and network yourself around a bit, try and meet business people who you share interests with and who seem like OK people - the more friends you make in business the more recommendations you'll get, took me a while to work that one out!
Try and call people who you feel might benefit from your services if you're desperate for work, but don't be aggressive and try and push yourself, explain in a very courteous manner that you're 'a highly capable freelancer looking for exciting and inspirational work' and that you feel the company could benefit from your services, always be polite but try your hardest to impress and subtly sell yourself when the opportunity arises in conversation.
If you have a portfolio up and clients contact you, then do the same, be very polite and as impressive as possible, and convince them that they made the perfect decision contacting you, because what you offer is just PERFECT for their needs.
Now, meeting and introducing yourself in person:
SUIT UP! - don't worry about looking 'uptight' or 'schmoozy' - I ALWAYS meet up with clients in a nice suit and tie combination and try and look as smart as possible - if you've got any visible piercings then take them out, cover up as many tattoos as you can (it really can't hurt to do so) - now I'm not anti tatt or anti-piercing at all - I have 6 tattoos and 3 piercings, one of which is in my lip, this always gets taken out before meetings and interviews - every client I've secured hasn't had a problem with it AFTER we've agreed on a deal, but I nearly always take my lip ring out with the bigger clients, especially if they're a little older 😃 - wash properly, make sure your hair looks relatively smart (I have quite long hair and, if I really want to make an effort, will often straighten it and style it before meeting a client) and don't overdo the cologne, have a good, firm handshake and BE CONFIDENT - you know you're good, you know what you can do, tell the client that, through your speech and your body language, don't shrug your shoulders or slouch in the chair, captivate your listener and show them that you're as good as you know you are.
Again, be very polite and try and impress as much as you can, without sounding desperate for work. Make sure you're clued up in your field and if you can do everything the client needs, MAKE SURE you tell them everything they need they can get from you.
DO NOT LIE - it might seem tempting at first to try and impress clients by claiming to be able to do something you're not capable of ("Oh, jQuery?? Yep, I know it like the back of my hand!" *rushes off after signing the deal to learn jQuery in a weekend) - you WILL get in over your head and you WILL end up disappointing a client, if you can't do it, you're not right for the client, so let it pass by.
The confidence was the worst part for me, I used to be very easily intimidated and missed some very big clients because I just didn't get my words out properly and came across as a stuttering fool - just KNOW in yourself that you're good enough to get the job done and show that to the client!
Sorry if I got the wrong idea about what you were asking, if you're looking for the best way to get started as a freelancer then your portfolio is vital, networking with business people is important and come up with some creative ways to get your portfolio some exposure!
If none of this information was useful, then you have my apologies, but if any of it comes in handy then we're all happy :D
