When you're acquiring links for a person or a company you definitely need to be in a position where your client is comfortable with you representing them or their brand. When it comes to Guest blogging you shoot for the ABSOLUTE BEST, and for the highest links you can get!
So if you want to rank for SEO, you get links by answering 200 questions on MoZ, because they're an authority in SEO. You write guest articles for search engine journal, because any piece of content from a well known authority serves as an endorsement.
DO NOT EVER use fake anything for yourself or for someone you represent. Writing is a valuable skill to have, and if you guest post about anything at all, you're going to have to do very SOLID research to be an AUTHORITY.
However I have come to find, you don't have to be a psychologist to write a better article that paints and defines the difference between bipolar I and bipolar II better than anyone formerly had done before! The 3000 word compendium that you gained your source of information on the subject matter, nobody needs to know that was your clients website and onsite SEO you did for them. money in the bank for you, backlinks for your client
Sorry, kinda strayed to the fake name segment and gave it priority so back to your numeric order:
1. What is your outreach process - Do you pitch as a marketing manager or as a subject expert?
on a local level SEO clients can be acquired by ranking in the term city name + SEO. It's actually seemingly easy aside living in a massive metropolis. By doing things as simple as ranking a Youtube channel with tutorials, writing a nice 2000 word local SEO blog.
You'll most likely kill your competition. 1.2m population here in Tucson and not one of these guys has a Youtube channel that breaks 100.
In summary, I provide content and that teaches others through my experiences. When it comes to SEO, right or wrong, results and positive client reviews will bring in the crowd.
2. What do you mention in your author bio? I lost count of how many profiles and forum membership sites I've signed up for, many of them vary, tailored specifically to that particular platform, and who my target audience is.
This changes despite selling specifically web design and SEO, for example a profile and blog on ActiveRain or AccountingWeb, you would need to be specifically targeting realtors or CPAs. So I base my blog posts specifically on those markets.
There really isn't a specific template aside simply saying use current pictures, make profile names a nice variance of different target keywords, and whenever possible use 400+ words to make your links contextual.
You'll never need to use a clients name for your offsite/onsite SEO especially if you are winning them links and leads with quality content marketing.