Are you talking Products/Services or Recruiting?
Personally when first getting started I always take my products/services to people I already know. This has always been the easiest route for me personally. I know my family and friends will always try them out for me because they care about me and want to help.
On the recruiting side... That is kind of a hard question because there are quite a few people that will say online. I actually found that recruiting online is much harder than it may seem. It seems like online everyone is very cut-throat with competing there is a lot of things to learn. I am not against online marketing but I don't use it as much as I use my Phone.
My phone has been the medium that has brought me so many Awesome Friendships and business partners over and over again. If you can get comfortable on the phone and tell yourself before the person answers "My Only Goal in this conversation is making a new friend". You will find more people to join you on your journey then you can imagine.
The Saying, "People join People not Companies" is so true. I even still talk with people that left the industry because I made solid friendships with people. Just remember you are in "Network Marketing" not just "Marketing". If these companies wanted a bunch of advertisers they would go hire some but they didn't they are smart enough to realize that "People are Loyal to their friends" and "Word of Mouth" are both far more powerful marketing then placing an ad that costs $50,000 per year.
So my advice is make your phone your friend when it comes to recruiting and use your personal network and word of mouth locally for products/services.
JMHO