The best way to actually get noticed is by designing a popular/well known website for someone. Take for example this community, tarun designed this and he has recieved dozens of work from it and has also moved onto doing another skin for another website.

It's the same with anything, deplex did banners2go and had so many people e-mailing me asking "who did your design?".

I would suggest getting your name out there on certain large communities and showing what you can do. If it's good work to a high standard offer a totally free design for a reputable brand/company...once that is finished you will have a platform to launch off.

Other than that....advertise, forums, perhaps even some banner adverts or pour some money into google adwords. Try your local market first, post flyers through your local neighbourhood advertising your services and ring up local small businesses.