Network with as many people as you can, including everyone you know so they know you are in the business. Blogging will help get your name out there on the Internet as will social media.

 See my blog post , "9 Ways to Get Your Real Estate Career Up and Running".  Be sure to read the comments that were left by industry professionals.

Network and tell everyone you know that your in the business. Read the blog by  Fred Griffin .  You will get ideas.  The most important action is actually following through with your plans. It's easy to get sidetracked.  Good luck!

The odds are you will be primarily a Buyers Agent starting out . start warm calling your SOI announcing this ! Look for Open House opportunities that make sense for you to meet buyers in your Geo & Price Pts..

You have received many excellent answers and there are many more that can be found.   Find the method that is the best fit for you.  

Be genuine.  Be knowledgeable.   Ask questions.  Listen.   

You've received a lot of good answers and I hve nothing to add to the list.

The biggest boost to our business was joining a BNI group. Other groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and other local groups help as well.

People are looking for someone who will focus on their needs and exceed them.

As for getting your name out there, you have to use a lot of different ways to get your name in front of the specific customers you are interested in serving. There's no one answer. It could be door knocking, web marketing, direct mail, volunteering at community events, phone calling, etc. You have to find what works for you.

I think, people are looking for an authentic professional who genially wants to help them. 

Jeff Dowler & Fred Griffin have given you excellent advice!  Good luck!

IMO it depends how you are going to run your business - niche market? General? Commercial? Residential?

Find what you want to do then ask that question again - its focus that wins the prize!

The two ways to get your name out there is through meeting people in person and reaching out to them online. After referrals, my Active Rain blog attracts a great deal of new buyers and sellers. 

Work your SOI, start farming, work open houses, let everyone you meet know you are in real estate, ask for the business, ask for the referral.

Get out and network face to face. 

Ethan Marsh - if you can invest in coaching, I'd recommend hiring a coach who can find out your strengths and help you in your business.

I like Buffini & Company for my relational style of business.

Never stop learning...

Network and read Fred Griffin 's post.  A

Talk to everyone you know

Focus on being the local expert, and become great at what you do as well.

Serious blogging is a great start.

Jeff Dowler nailed this one!

People are looking for honest people who are ready willing and able to serve them ... THEM not the agent.  

That said, some people are looking for an agent willing to cover up things and not disclose known defects ... that would not be me and I do not want to work with those people. 

most are looking for a real face....

Keep up what you are doing phase one. Phase two, kick it up a notch

Lots of good advice here.  I can tell you NOT to buy leads!  Get out there and network.  My #1 piece of advice is:  Learn your market inventory and statistics.  When you talk to people about real estate you need to sound knowledgeable.  Nothing will build your confidence like knowing the market.  And, of course, blog regularly about your market area.  You will not only be disseminating information... you will be learning as you blog.

Ethan Marsh Face-to-face networking, working your SOI and beating the bushes.

Get out there and press the flesh! Let people know you are in the business!

Listings are the #1 way.

Use social media, make videos and start a YouTube.com channel and get to some networking groups and mixers...hand out those cards. Host open houses for other agents...after you've been trained on how to properly host them.

best way is to tell everyone you are in real estate and you are there to help them

I really like the advice your received from Michael Jacobs Be genuine.  Be knowledgeable.   Ask questions.  Listen. Great advice!

Here is what you SHOULD NOT DO.

Go and meet people to chat about what you do when you are clueless.

Burn bridges to family, friends, associates and co-workers when you are without a clue.

Join brokers who crrency is sweet words.

Go to professional organizations without something to add/offer.

Promote your business with Success Theater, Vanity Metrics and Surragate Endpoints, the currency of real estate service marketing.

Plead for business by racing to the bottom.

So, what ARE you supposed to do, NOW?

1. Getting Started As A Brand New Agent (equipping)

2. Then, the hard part...Most current agents can not do this.

 The Only Two Things Needed  (empowering)

And finally

3. God Made a Realtor. (enduring. This is what you are getting into)

What are people looking for? Don't ask a bunch of real estate agents, ask people. But learn the art of the well crafted question. The real answer is on the other side if the Z. Investing in your own research, talking to those who will let you buy them a cup of coffee will be incredibly revealing.

Its uphill all the way... get involved in groups, activities make sure everyone you know knows you are Open For Business.

Network to start out with,  Make a list of everyone you know and mail them your cards.

As others have said network as much as you can with friends and their friends.

Networking, build out your online profiles, get active in that space.