Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

I might peruse the job boards, and identify which companies are frequently hiring the type of candidate you are trying to place. Usually there is contact information there to send resumes to, and that would be a good starting point. I would make a phone call, send an email, and a sales letter—each one should be absolutely personal. Form communication just does not do. No matter how you get in touch and start building your list, offer something of value up front, and always position yourself as the answer to their problems. In addition, make sure everything about your company looks as professional as possible. A bad web site will leave a prospective client with a bad taste in the mouth.

It's unclear from your question if you're just starting up a new business or having problems with your established business.

If it's established, then if you haven't reconnected with your existing/past clients, now's a good time to find out what problems they are having and how your business can possibly help them.

If you're starting up (and you already have created a marketing strategy for your business to identify your unique benefits), then it's a matter of finding the proper niche (those that are hiring and would want to use your services).

Also, instead of thinking small (helping businesses find candidates for their jobs), think bigger: How can you help your prospect's business itself?

One thought you might consider is to focus on jobs where there are shortages, not surpluses.

For example, it is probably quite difficult to find jobs for auto assembly workers in Detroit right now, because there are so many of them.

On the other hand, there are shortages of nurses and occupational therapists and so forth.

If it were my company, I would try to position the firm as the firm of choice for workers who are in demand, such as occupational therapists, and then I would position myself to potential employers as offering the best and brightest candidates.