I like Kathleen Luiten answer - get involved, make yourself known, network, and pound the pavement.  Also (this should be obvious) dive in & learn everything they can about their new location.

Host open house often.  Ask colleagues if they'll let you hold their listings open.

I believe there are many things you can do and most before me have already stated them.  I would definitely put a sponsorship ad on the local radio station and maybe even a commercial that will get your name known by the local area. I would also do a Press Release with the local radio, newspaper, realtor magazines as well as do blogging about the area, go door to door of a farm area near your home and introduce yourself asking if they know anyone who is thinking of buying or selling, send out postcards, attach yourself to a team as well as volunteer to do open houses. 

Dear John,

Unless you know the area, I like the idea of sitting Open Houses for other agents. That will make you research a specific area, prepare & most important: talk to people. Wear your name tag & hang out at the hardware store & talk to people. See, if anyone has a referral for you. Possibly a rental, that many people do not want to bother with. When you are starting from zero any business is good business. It probably took me about 120 days to first closing last time I moved. Best of luck!

Great question.  Spend all your time prospecting, of course.  At night study the market and make calls.  Farm the highest turnover rate area of ~500 homes with the goal that every homeowner knows your name in 45 days.  That means knocking, calling and leaving nicely printed or copied neighborhood market report for that area every 7 (yes, 7 cause you're in a hurry) days.  Work Fizbos and expireds close to home or office and go with the biggest company name in town even if you don't like them.  Personally, I'd skip 90% of so-called buyers.

I moved from L.A, where I grew up, to San Jose in 1972 and started RE in 1976 so I had 4 years worth of local friends and associates, but no family except my own.  But it took six months, not three, to get paid my 1st, 2nd and 3rd closings.  

You need to find a way to stand out from all the other realtors.  For example I know a realtor who sold wines in his previous career.  I suggested for him to create a newsletter and blog around different wines and of course give away the wine that was the flavor of the month at his closings. People do business with people.  Sales people or realtor use the slogan that they are different because they service their clients.  Really?  Well if you are a realtor you better offer better service because that should be a given.  You have to stress you are different in a different way.  What is your interest, hobby etc. that you can share and stand out from the competition.

Next, I recommend attend every networking event available on Meetup. Once again at the networking events talk about how you stand out from the competition because now you are the walking billboard/website.  You can network all day long seven days a week. 

Lastly I would canvas your our own neighborhood hard with the same idea of how you are different from your competition. 

Good Luck!

I have wondered the same thing at times.  It is hard to pick up and relocate in this business.

Introduce yourself to your new neighbors, join a local organization for networking and/or start a mailing campaign to introduce yourself first and market after that. 

I started by spending time at our Visitor's Center.  One in a hundred are thinking about moving!  Having an office on Main Street I spend free time on the sidewalk talking to my flowers and greeting everyone walking by with a comment like "Welcome to Westcliffe, where are you visiting us from?"

Have a business plan, just like you would if you were opening a store front.

Present your plan to prospect brokers until you identify one with mutually aligned interests.

Accept the mentor recommended by the broker as a/the buyer agent for a team, with the commitment from broker or team to get you immediately engaged in transactions. 

The mentor, team leander should reveal a protocal for compativilty assessment. If they do not, this may not the the family/team you are looking for.

If you have a real plan, they can plug you in. If you don't have a plan, you will be a fish trying to climb a tree.

Get involved in some community activities and network at every social gathering.

Build relationships!

John, I would join the local board first. Then I would start with a full blown Blog post. Topic why your moving to this market. Then purchase so low cost radio spots to get your name out their. I would not invest heavy but I would run in the Newspaper on Sunday an ad. If your agent go to your broker and ask would like some help holding open house. I have thought of this issue. I'm expanding my market and also looking to move the be closer to the beach in a few years. I do from time to time prime these markets with blog post. 

Join a successful team for awhile to gain local experiene and exposure.

Attend office/board events to network with other agents, offer to advertise other agent's listings in exchange for the leads you may get, and host as many open houses as possible.

There are many top agents who may not have time to help all the buyers who call them. They can talk to top agnets in their office and offer referral fee. 

Join a team would be one way....buyers agents are often in high demand.

I think, same as always: try to meet as many people as possible: visit open houses to meet other agents, check local meet-ups, join local chamber or network clubs, send a postcard to the neighbors with introduction, etc.

Work on Expired's or FSBO's.

Frequent open houses will get them more than one in that period.

Attend social meetings, be the member of BNI.

Join a good team.

just looking back on some of the old questions and answers, looks like you got some good replies here.

Connect with the Top Listing Agent in the office, and offer to help them to promote their listings.  Create a daily marketing plan to attract Buyers or referrals.  They will love you for your efforts, and be willing to insure your success.

Create a business plan, time-lines for achieving your goals and objectives, target your specific market, area and future clients and contact them by working your plan.

If I were in that position, I'd start a blog and post to it at least once daily so I'd be forced to learn about the city's neighborhoods, shops, attractions, etc.  Go out DAILY, take lots of photos (for your blog posts) and get to know the area well.  Do market reports, which forces you to research the MLS and become familiar with all things real estate in the area.  Write about what attracted you to the area that made you move there. Go to open houses, networking events, take courses offered by the Realtor Association and join the Chamber of Commerce.  Basically, just dive in and take as much in as you can.