any good way to go about this? or is the only way just sending out zed cards and portfolios???

Work hard, network any way you can, make friends, contacts, whatever. Do as many jobs as possible, style people out on price, but always say,"Don't tell anyone what I charged you." It's code for,"Tell everyone what a great deal you got from me and have them call me and say they were referred by you, hoping they will get the same deal."

Word of mouth and referrals are how you get work.