in order:
1. Turn up gain till it is where it needs to be
2. Find problem and deal with it if limiter is distorting too heavy
3. Balance the master
4. Set lookahead time for "louder masters aka clipping"
5. Adjust attack and release times
Generally I do not have to do more than step 1.. sometimes go to step 3.. and 1 in 10 projects I have to go to step 5