I've been a freelance marketer (I do google ads) for 8 years now. The thing that made all the difference for me was building a good website for myself and then buying google ads on keywords that indicate people are looking for somebody like me.
This is the key. People aren't looking for "freelancers". They are looking for solutions. If you are a "company" offering a "solution" to their problem, they will pay you for your solution.
I have gotten all my clients that way.