What are some of the best strategies to promotoe a local web design business/firm?

I'm suggesting you the ideas which worked for me

First build your own website beautifully and about marketing

Paid:
1. you can try giving news paper ads
2. google Adwords select option restricted to your local area
3. Distribute pamplets stapled to the newspaper locally paying nominal amount to the newspaper delivery guy. It will work

Free:
1. Marketing through your local forums
2. Print your business cards and distribute them manually at malls, restaurants and theatres. Place ur business card under the windshield wiper of the cars at parking lots

I wouldn't waste your time on Elance if you are looking to build a strong offline business to business company. You need to target the services and media that they use. You might need to do a little research first to find out the right information.

This is easy.

Sign up for a linked in, myspace, facebook, and twitter accounts. Create a really nice, professional profile for each site.

Then start following lots of local people.

Start asking questions, publishing polls, and just kind of be yourself.

If you do that, you will almost certainly have a few new clients within a week or 2

Let me know if you have any questions!

Having been a small brick and mortar business owner for seventeen years, I can tell you that the best way to get my ear is by being my customer.

You can walk the streets of New York, LA or Dallas - whereever you live - and wear out the soles of your shoes, but to really get someone's attention --- be their customer first.

Think -- Your Dry cleaner, card shop, coffee shop, diner, etc. -- where ever you spend money, take a few minutes to say hello to the owner or store manager.

In local sales just as in online sales, nothing works better than building relationships.

This is a very popular topic on the forum. There is a ton of excellent information here, so try doing a search using the the keyword "offline".

Andrew Cavanaugh coined the term "Offline Gold" in the thread that really got things going. Searching that term will get you some A-grade stuff.

David Preston had a massive thread under another term he coined, "Offline Cash Cow", so if you search on that one, you'll find more really good stuff.

If you really plan to tackle offline clients, forget elance. It will be rare that any owner you speak with will have even heard of it, much less used it.

If I had just one bit of advice before you go on your search, it would be this...

Most of the business owners you talk to couldn't care less about web design, SEO, or any other buzz word you might throw their way. They want to know how you can make them more money, get them more leads and customers, save them money/time/hassle and look good in their community. Do that and you are money. Try to baffle them with buzzwords and bull****, and they'll kick you to the curb so fast you'll bounce.

set up a business directory for your local area
- provide free listings
advertise your services there

1. Create your own website. The website should have a price list / rate card. And your portfolio. And a way to get in touch with you.

2. First thing to do: approach local businesses you buy stuff from. If they don't have a website, talk with them. This will get you started. And help you build a portfolio.

3. Second thing to do:
i. write a 4-8 page pamphlet report that will help local businesses.
ii. Approach a printer. Ask him to print 100 copies of that pamphlet.
iii. Ask him to give one copy away to each of his new clients.
iv. Approach another printer.

Bonus: create a finders fee / offline affiliate program. Add a unique code for each printer. The client gets a discount on your rate card prices by using the unique code. You track which printer sends you how many clients because of that unique code. And you pay a 10% finders fee to the printers on all business they send to you.