OP here. That's the answer I was gonna give... most of the freelancing work I did was via personal relationships.
Often personal relationships with companies that employed me in the past, or companies where ex-colleagues worked.
The only single time I did freelance work for anyone else was when my neighbour (a graphic designer) sent some work my way.
In my personal experience there’s no substitute to building relationships if you’re an individual or small company looking for contract/freelance work.
It starts slow, but when you’re doing good work and maintain relationships you‘ll be swimming in work eventually.