Once you learn your new skill, you need a portfolio piece. This is more important than a website or any amount of marketing you can do.

A high quality portfolio piece from a happy client is the most important element in making sales.

If you can't get someone to pay you, then do something for free. Find a friend or a colleague in need of your service, do it for them and do an amazing job.

After you finish the project, ask the client to write a testimonial for you.

Once they write their testimonial, put it into a nice document that you can send to prospective clients. Here is an example of a case study that I use to get clients for my web design business.

If you don't have Adobe InDesign or have the graphic design skills, then put something together in Microsoft Word. The most important thing is that you have a bold testimonial from that client praising your work, and a quality portfolio piece to show off.

b) Ask your existing network for referrals

Once you have learned this new skill, go out to your network and let them know what you have to offer. Send out your case study to your friends and colleagues. Show them what you have done and ask if they know anyone in need of a similar service.

You will be amazed at the random relationships or places that job referrals can come from.

At the start, don't be greedy. Take what you can get and keep building up your portfolio. Over time, the jobs will get bigger, your past clients will begin to refer you, and you will see your business grow.

c) Cold e-mail

This has been one of my most effective tactics in landing new remote working clients.

In September I e-mailed 120 prospects who had horrible websites. I sent them a case study to a past project and a nice e-mail letting them know I was available to help with their site if they needed it.

In total I spent about 10 hours sending out those e-mails, plus periodic follow ups over the next few months.

I ended up closing 4 clients from those cold e-mails that generated enough income to cover my cost of living in Mexico for two months.

Cold e-mailing works, and when your current network has nothing for you, this can be a great place to secure new clients.

4) List yourself as a contractor on outsourcing websites

Believe it or not, you can actually make great money as a contractor on sites like oDesk, Elance and Guru.com. Within just a few weeks of setting up my profile, I was making over $1000 in weekly income just from oDesk.

These sites are not just for people to outsource projects at low dollar amounts, there are quality clients on there looking to pay good money for freelancers who can communicate well and have the skills that they need.

3) Travel

Once you have landed your first few clients, you will feel the momentum.

Take the plunge, buy a one way ticket to somewhere awesome, and make the move.

If you are going to do it, I recommend starting somewhere cheap.

Right now I renting an apartment in Mexico for $330 US dollars per month. I can buy an avocado for 20 cents! (For anyone who knows how much I love avocados, that is awesome!)

When you are starting a business or freelance career, your biggest expense is going to be your own living. The cheaper the cost of living in a country, the lower your overhead.