When we chat at conferences with counselors or admissions officers who are thinking about becoming private counselors, the most common questions they ask us are versions of, “How do you find new clients?” and “What kind of marketing do you do?" Those are good questions; the hardest part of growing a business is getting the word out and letting more people know you exist.
I found this piece of advice today that Seth Godin wrote for authors, but I think it applies to pretty much any small business (or an old business with a new product):
Sell
one. Find one person who trusts you and sell him a copy. Does he love
it? Is he excited about it? Excited enough to tell ten friends because
it helps them, not because it helps you?"
If people aren’t talking about you yet, marketing isn't your problem. Keep improving what you do until
they tell their friends. They’ll take care of getting the word out.
P.S. It's a good strategy for becoming a better student, teammate, friend, coworker, etc., too.