I have tried mass mailings, email/snail mail (a few responses but no takers)
I had a cheap website built (most of my gigs start at my website)
I advertise my website on the back of my truck
I have biz cards that I place everytime I see a place I can stick one
I am going to do some advertising in a few local papers
I donated a few photo gigs to a couple of charity auctions (great way to get your name out there) Plus nobody ever contacts me about the photo they bid on (go figure)
I managed to get my website name on a radio spot (people actually told me they heard the DJ's mention the name.
I took some free photos of my boss's house while on a flight one day (it doesn't hurt that he is on the town council in a very wealthy town).
It's all in name recognition..... There are other aerial photographers in my area but you really have to do some serious searching to find out about them.
You have to go beyond the obvious and approach the customer at a different angle, it's what sets you apart from the others. My main goal right now is to provide amazing customer service and get my name known in my area so when people think aerial photos, they will think of me.
Goodluck