This is an extremely tough question because the industry is always changing. In the past, I’ve depended a lot on my online following to find work, but algorithms are becoming increasingly restrictive and this is not always a reasonable strategy anymore. Sometimes there’s a lot of work to be found, and sometimes work dries up. There’s a lot of fluctuation and it’s not always your fault if you can’t find work.
I definitely recommend getting your work out there as much as you can – both online and in real life. Attending art events like LightBox Expo, Playgrounds or local comic cons can be a great way to make face-to-face connections. If you can, get your portfolio reviewed by professionals in the field so that you know how to optimize your portfolio for a specific type of job. When showing your art to others, show them a mix of finished and rough work: this way, others can get a sense of how you draw but also how you think and develop your ideas. Finally, joining a discord community with other artists can be a great way to find connections amongst your peers. Basically, do anything that can help you create genuine connections with people in the industry!