Hi Val.
I started my business in a unit in a Business Centre in the town where I live and have to say it was very slow going to start with!
I did hours of door-to-door leafleting and, though it is time consuming and exhausting, it did return about one client for every 100 leaflets.
I also put up posters in local shops at a small price and got a few clients from them.
Probably my best, or most effective client-producing marketing was giving gift vouchers for prizes to charities for raffles and auctions, etc. Some of the clients I got this way have turned in to regulars and, interestingly, these are the people that are best at referring their colleagues, family and friends.
And that is the crunch - word of mouth referrals seem to be best for building a business, but of course you need clients in the first place who will refer to you! That's why it can take so long.
Something else I did, was to stand in the local health shop (I already knew the owner) all day for several Saturdays handing out leaflets.. This was good as it gave me the opportunity to actually speak to my prospective clients.
And a friend and I went to see the owner of a local juice bar. I spent hours in there doing chair massage in the window (it was a very busy street!) and got a few clients that way.
What has NOT worked for me is:
Yellow pages - not a single call in two years
Local magazine/newspaper advertising - again, no calls
I hope this helps you some - get creative and adventurous!