Lara Acosta

Entrepreneur and investor building businesses online | Featured on Forbes, Kajabi + Semrush | Helped 3,000+ people build their personal brand.

Everyone wants to build a personal brand, and I figured out how.

With over 20M+ impressions, 300,000 followers across socials, and multiple 6 figures made, I can show you how you can build one too (without spending years figuring out how)

In 2022: I was unemployed and trying to get into a master's degree - downloaded LinkedIn
In 2023: I became #1 female creator on LinkedIn by building my personal brand and agency
In 2024: I'm building the best education platform to teach people exactly how to do it

Helped, coached and worked with 500+ build contents systems, increase engagement, improve their writing and beyond using proven strategies that worked for me. 

Here's how I can help you:

1. Subscribe to my YouTube (It's free, and better than people's paid courses!)
2. Join 15,100+ amazing people and subscribe to my newsletter. 
3. Join 500+ members inside Literallyacademy.com

And if you're not ready for either! Welcome to my profile anyway, I talk about writing, storytelling,  personal branding and tell a lot of stories.

See you on the feed 💖

Sponsorships + booking : mary@ladigitalmx.com

Founder

I spent the last 90 days testing every LinkedIn hack. 

Here's what actually works in 2026 (for any niche):

Everyone is talking about the "new" LinkedIn algorithm.
But I just see it as more of the same, but 10x more specific.

I've grown brands from 0-100,000 followers here.
Grown my own to 300,000+ in the same time.

Mastered every format here, and helped others too.

And there are 3 core elements you need to implement:

1. Hyper-specific content (3x a week)

• Solve one exact problem per post
• Use industry language your clients use
• Speak directly to one person

Jake Ward mastered this for "boring" SEO.
Built kleo.so to $60kmrr  as a result of exactly that 

Alex Vacca mastered this for GTM.
Scaled his business to $6M ARR too

Their content is hyper-specific but simple.

Clients want to work with them because they get it.
Users want to engage with them because they simplify it.

2. Proof-First Content

80% tactical step-by-step frameworks and screenshots.
20% stories on how you're doing it (use stories)

The 80% builds trust, the 20% engages them more. 

Educate and storytell. Always both. 

3. LinkedIn Video (let me explain...)

Video reach might be down right now.
But it's the fastest way to prove authority. 

LinkedIn video is ok.
Linkedin Lives? They're a goldmine.

We had a LinkedIn live with 200 people.
Made $10,000 from it. 

People buy from people they trust. Video accelerates this! 

I'd limit these to 2 a month, though, no pressure. 

I left a checklist for you in the image below for you to script your first Linkedin video too btw.

This is the no-bs blueprint for entrepreneurs. 

It's not about more volume, it's about more insights.

Dominating LinkedIn isn't just about virality right now.
It's about building a brand that earns trust.

Keep your focus on your 1 thing. 

The rest will follow.

PS: Who is your favorite "expert-led" creator right now? I want to follow more people! Tag them below! 

PPS: Jan 22nd, I'm walking you through the best way to master these 3 elements in 2026!

join us for free LIVE on the 22nd of January here: https://lnkd.in/eC5sm4cP

We're already at 4,000 sign ups! Come join us! 

See you thursday, love - Lara x

Entrepreneur and investor building businesses online | Featured on Forbes, Kajabi + Semrush | Helped 3,000+ people grow their personal brand and scale their businesses.

To all women fighting for a seat at the table. 
To all the women battling self-doubt. 
To all the women working twice as hard to be seen.

I celebrate you today. I see you.

I celebrate your ambition. Your discipline.

To the women, learning as they go.
To the mother juggling 100 things.
To the women starting before they feel ready.
To the daughters carrying their families’ hopes.
To the women doing it quietly, without applause.
To the students with a dream and exams to pass.

Today, tomorrow and every day I'm rooting for you. 

Keep showing up, because even if you don't realise.
There's probably a little girl aspiring to be like you. 

I know this because I was one of them. 

Thank you to all the women who've inspired me. 
Knowingly or unknowingly, "big" or "small". 

You have.

PS: Tag your favorite female creator/founder in the comments and celebrate them with me!

Age 18: Couldn't speak in public. Had a stutter.
Age 21: Couldn't pitch myself. Felt insecure. 
Age 23: Couldn't increase my prices. Felt expensive.
Age 25: Built my first 6-figure business. Felt late. 

At 28: I run 3x multi-six and 7-figure businesses.

I speak in front of 1000s weekly (without stuttering.)

I never felt ready to do the things I did to get here.
I didn't wait until I had all the right skills to start.

Instead I: 

Found a hard skill I could learn fast (writing).
Relentlessly studied it and mastered it. 

My self-confidence grew, and so did I in the process. 

You don't lack confidence; you lack repetition. 

To every professional and entrepreneur who relates:

If you can't find a seat at the table. Build your own.

The company is better anyway. Build yourself. 
Don't let confidence and self-doubt stop you. 

Repost ♻️ to inspire others today. 

PS: I'm documenting everything step-by-step here from business to confidence https://lnkd.in/ePmtkSa8! see you there!

Yes, it's true. The "LinkedIn Algo" has changed... but landing high-ticket clients was never about impressions.

It's about what I call "content-offer" fit.

I learnt this after I grew to 20k followers.
And had no clear monetisation path. 

Viral content. An 'optimized' profile... Few closed deals.

This hurt - I didn't want to be a 'content creator'. 
I wanted to run my content into consistent revenue.

So my content and overall brand had to match my offer.

Here's what I did to land high-ticket clients from posts:

1. My content went from "broad" to "1 person 1 problem" - I spoke about their needs and wants not just me.
   
2. My engagement went from "adding everyone" to "10-15 hyper-personalised connection requests to my ICP.
   
3. My comments and dm's always focused on solving a problem or giving value not just "hey good post". 
   
   ^ this was a life-changer, I still get leads from just that. 
   
4. My "engagement" time went from just commenting on every post to looking at profile views and targeting them. 

Look today, your content is either converting clients or wasting your effort and time pursuing impressions.

The difference between both is content-offer fit.
Not the algorithm, or your "low impressions".

If you want to see me explain this in FULL depth and show you the step-by-step I've just opened my next programme to monetise your LinkedIn as a business owners (starts march 12th) https://lnkd.in/enAsWMSy

PS: Comment "dm" below if you want me to drop a full DM to close masterclass to convert 'lurkers' on Linkedin!

pov: you're building viral businesses in london with friends in your 20s documenting everything.

look, you can't compete with people having fun. 

Tycho turned his b2b business into a multi-million view marketing play - doing what no one was doing.

have fun. the creatives that win this game do this.

a few years ago we all had 0 followers.
we didn't have businesses or teams. 

but we kept going, we kept posting. 

today we travel the world, visiting offices, and get to have fun while building our businesses. 

have fun. meet cool people. do cool things.

so a reminder to you my friends, have fun.
this journey is lonely, make sure you're not. 

ps: full video with Tycho Luijten Steven van Marle Henry Hayes out now! link in the comments (i got arrested for talking about b2b saas and ai too much)

I just re-built an entrepreneur's LinkedIn strategy...

And turned Timothy's content into a $1M asset in less than 33 minutes LIVE so you can steal it.

Documented the step by step behind building an algorithm-proof brand that doesn't rely on "trends".

And focuses all on 2 things: attention and conversion.

In 2026 the game isn't how to get more impressions.
The game is how to convert them and grow faster. 

All without changing strategy whenever the algo shifts.

I showed him my LinkedIn system including

1. The Category of 1 Play (to own a market)
2. My Broad-Narrow-Niche Content Framework
3. Turning "ideas" into highly educational content 
4. Engineering viral stories that build engagement
5. How to turn that attention into revenue 

The playbook is there for you to steal.
Now the question is... will you implement it?

Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/evRTk2Qp

Probably my favorite strategy video so far.

Enjoy...and don't forget me at the top ;) 

PS: Next week I'm dropping our next session with one of the biggest entrepreneurs in our space... any guesses?

By 27 I built a $1M online business with 89% profit margins using LinkedIn a distribution channel.

Here’s how I’d do it all over again in 2026:

(If you’re not getting leads, this workflow will help you)

I call it the 3-Step AI Lead Gen System.

1. Content that builds trust fast
3. Tools like Apollo to scale outreach
3. Comment + DM strategy to capture intent

The lead-gen game isn’t about inbound vs outbound.

It’s about doing both, well at the same time.

• Build content that creates trust over time.
• Outreach to people who show interest using Apollo.
• Build a sales sequence with it to maximise lead gen.

My agency clients showed me how they are making $100k/mo without 100k followers using those 3 steps.

1. Post weekly educational content to nurture.
2. Use Apollo’s AI Assistant to find warm leads...
3. Build ready-to-message lists in minutes.

Land clients faster, instead of waiting for them.

You don’t need to play the lead gen game on hard mode.
Content builds attention but the right system converts it.

Apollo’s new AI Assistant is in beta and if you want to get access to it before everyone else you can try it out here: https://lnkd.in/eh7icQgH

#ApolloPartner 

PS: I recorded a 20-minute FREE masterclass for this.

Want it? Comment LEADS and i'll send it over now!

pov: our ai startup just hit its first $190k month.

26 days. 1 webinar. 1 huge email campaign + linkedin.

our approach has been dead from day 1 simple:

1. build distribution first (organic linkedin content)
2. turn that into owned traffic (waitlist to email list)
3. build the product in with our users ( early access)
4. fix, test and iterate the product every week
5. pick a launch date (randomly) and promote 
6. send weekly emails pre-launch to warm list up 
7. build a promotion sequence for launch week
8. wrap up with a webinar and make a 1-time offer

this is exactly how we've done it. 

not paid a single penny on ads, marketing or influencers. 
we became our own "influencers" instead. 

crossed $100k 24hrs in. 
grew to $190k weeks later.

and our bets? we can cross $200k before february ends. 

and it's just the beginning... thank you for your support.

ps: we're hiring! if you want to join the Kleo team drop a comment and tell us why you'd like to join us. 

try Kleo here → https://lnkd.in/emEV_GhM

I'm scared. In less than 6 hours I'm exposing every single "new" LinkedIn algorithm claim LIVE. 

And I need your help. 

I know you've read the algorithm reports.
I know you've seen the posts around it too. 

I know that you're even trying to follow the "new" strategies pushed by big creators 

So I have 4 questions for you:

1. What question do you STILL have about the algo
2. What is ACTUALLY working for you right now?
3. Have those reports/articles actually helped?
4. Knowing what you know, what do you still not know?

Let's make this the best live class I've ever done. 

Here's the free link if you want to join https://lnkd.in/e3SHsCjw

Drop your questions below.

I'm rooting for you.

I am committed to building the LinkedIn growth and lead gen programme in the world. 60+ people already joined, and I want you to be in it too (Closing enrollment 14/03)

You'll get direct access to me for 4-weeks.
5x calls every single week (2 hours each).
Breakdown on positioning, content, funnels + launches
Weekly accountability calls designed for your success.
Instant access to a high-level network.
Behind the scenes of million-dollar personal brands.

I'm revealing it all. Giving you the exact plug and play systems I'd use for your business and niche. 

This isn't another course. It isn't a community. 
It's my version of a training camp for entrepreneurs. 

Some members are already signing high-ticket deals.
Most got answers in 30 minutes they waited years for. 
All of them are already winning by having a network. 

So... are you in? 

Join here today: https://lnkd.in/enAsWMSy

Book a call with us: https://lnkd.in/eBRqe9mS

PS: I'll be giving 'scholarship' access to 1 lucky person who reposts this and comments why they should win.

Ryan R. Sullivan

Podcast Strategy for Finance, Law & Coaching 🎙️ The Podcast Pipeline | DJ → Rapper → Marketer

You’re an advisor, not a full-time marketer.

Referrals are great…but they’re inconsistent. 

In the meantime, a financial "coach" on TikTok is getting millions of views pushing dangerous advice. 

But you don't have a content problem. 

You have a system problem:

→ Random posts
→ The occasional YouTube video
→ Compliance saying "we'll get back to you."

Let's change that. 

We'll build a repeatable, compliance-friendly, team-run content system with a simple cadence:

One 90-minute recording session per month → 3–4 segments + 15–30 clips

Then we turn that into a weekly rhythm across LinkedIn, email, YouTube, and your podcast.

We helped a client generate 150+ life insurance clients with one podcast.
Built 100+ podcast strategies for finance, CPA's, banks, and law firms. 

If you want a credible, relationship-driven growth system your team can sustain:

📅 Book a Discovery call: https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover

I'll see you there! 

-Ryan R. Sullivan

We help people launch top-1% podcasts with 0 paid promotion using a proven launch strategy tailored specifically to turn audience members into podcast fans.

Here are what some of our podcasters are saying: 

Mikhail Myzgin, VP of Marketing at Slice 

"Ryan is an excellent resource for anything about podcasting. His advice was spot-on, and his expertise helped us solve a problem we didn't know how to go about."

Calum Johnson, Marketing Manager at Public

"I reached out to Ryan because I wanted to start my own podcast & get some pointers from someone who had experience & expertise launching podcasts. The consultation call with Ryan was 100% worth it, Ryan has started a lot of podcasts & gave me great advice that would be difficult to find anywhere else."

Malik Handoush, Strategic Business Develop Coach

"As someone searching for guidance & direction on beginning a podcast, I decided to reach out to Podcast Principles for a consultation. Ryan surpasses any expectations you may have as he brilliantly identifies and assesses where you are and what you're trying to accomplish. His true superpower is in his listening skills where he will help you simplify and reach a point of clarity."

Ready to humanize your business or brand? 30 mins of free advice is cool too :) 

Let's talk - https://calendly.com/podcastprinciples/discover

We got 12 inches of snow, then lost power and internet. 
My hot girlfriend, now freezing, turns to me.
And says,

"At least we can do our self-care." 

So apparently, these golden eye things are helping?

Thank god the power came back on. I was dreading what day 3 of no-power-self-care was going to look like. 

Back to work! 

PS: Did you get any snow?

Podcast-Style Content for Advisors & RIAs | 15m views, 500k+ Downloads and 1000+ Inbound Leads for Clients | Referrals are not a strategy. Stop waiting and start attracting.

My financial advisor said,
"Starbucks is keeping you poor."
So he made me switch to black coffee.

It's disgusting, sure.

But hey, at least now I can take that $2239 a year I saved and invest that into my Roth IRA. 

By the time I'm 65, that $2239 per year will get me at least another $357,569 to offset the cost of assisted living when I'm 75! 

He said it's all about optimizing for when you're really old and can't enjoy life. 

#financialadvising  

PS: Dave Ramsey is my financial advisor.

Bill Fanter brought us in to create videos.

12 months later: 

• 300,000+ views
• 5,000 subscribers
• 100 short-form videos

These are great metrics, but they don't tell the full story. 

Bill was already making videos, and that's the problem. 

Instead of sitting down to record a podcast or turning his phone camera on, we do one 90-minute recording per month.

No more editing.  
No more fancy cameras.
No more marketers or salespeople. 

Bill is one of the most successful options traders. He left a 25+ year career in banking to trade. Turning him into a "creator" is not the best use of his time when he runs a master class of 200 students. 

He's extremely candid about his wins and losses. 

And teaches his community how to do the same. 

He shouldn't be a video editor, and neither should you. 

#podcasting 

PS: Will you record video content this year?

We helped a life insurance agent lower CAC from $1500 to $67.77 with 1 podcast over 4 years. They added 150 clients with a 2400% ROI.

Managing people's wealth? That's not easy.

But advisors think they know what their marketing needs.

There's 1 thing it 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 needs.

Strategy.

You can get 500k impressions, but if you don't have a strategy, you will have no idea how to turn any of them into AUM, plans, or insurance. 

And if you can't repeat your results.

What's the point?

#advisors  

PS: Do you know your customer acquisition cost?

Podcast-Style Content for Advisors & RIAs | 15m views, 500k+ Downloads and 1000+ Inbound Leads for Clients | One 90-minute Recording Per Month

Yesterday I went back to high school to teach kids about careers in media. It made me more emotional than I expected. 

I haven't spent a lot of time processing how I got here. I've been running so fast that I haven't reflected for myself: 

"How did I get here?"
"Did I think I was going into media?"
"What job did I think I would have in 2026?"

I remember thinking about the 2020's in 2016. 

How one day I would be 25 years old.

What would I be doing? 

Yesterday I went back home. Got to spend an hour with incredible students who are already creating content for themselves and their fellow classmates.  I saw my old teachers, stopped at my old job to see my boss and back home at my dads house to sit on the porch. 

Back by 3 PM, then off to a networking event at 6. I almost couldn't go because I was reflecting so much. 

It's weird because I know how I got here. 

But I don't know every reason 𝘸𝘩𝘺 I got here.

There can't be just one. 

My grandfather prayed for me every single day. My other grandfather made sure I was making money no matter what. My dad instilled a work ethic that can't be trained. 

It's working. We have clients. I work with my best friend. I live with the love of my life. We dreamed for years of even getting to this point. And man, does it feel good to be doing this. 

This life is crazy. And as my girlfriend often says, 

"Just stop, take it in, and look what you've built."

Thanks for reading, but this post was for me. 

I'm starting to think a lot of them are. 

#appreciation  

PS: What makes you stop and look back? Spending an hour with students did it for me.

Advisors claim to work extremely hard to get their clients the best results, but struggle to write even one post about it. And that's sad. That's what I'm calling out. 

This post took me less than 10 minutes to write, featuring my future wife.

I get the fear of posting. I've heard the horror stories about compliance. A $20,000 fine for commenting on a post? Yeah, that's real. But people die in car accidents every single day, and we still take our kids to school. The exception is not the rule. I'm here to find the way to make it work, no matter what. I don't care if it's scary, I'll be right there in the trenches with you. I took compliance as a second language in high school.

 I will never bash good advisors, but you better damn well know I will call out the ones who complain but don't take action. I'm a mechanic-turned-podcaster-turned-marketer for advisors. If the guy who used to change your tires can do it, so can you. 

PS: Is creating content really that hard, or are we just getting in our own way?

"Why would I hire a rapper to market my business?"

🎤👇

1️⃣ Rhythm & Flow

A rapper knows timing, delivery, and consistency. Marketing isn’t just about throwing a message out there. It’s about crafting your story, keeping the beat, and hitting your audience at the right moments. A rapper creates punchlines. A marketer creates "material."

2️⃣ Engagement = Performance

A rapper is an MC, a marketer is a host. 300 live events taught me the difference. Your audience isn’t a passive listener — they’re the crowd, the fanbase, the people who amplify your message. A rapper knows how to perform and get a crowd to react. In marketing, that’s how you turn followers into customers.

3️⃣ Creative, Out-of-the-Box Thinking

Your marketer has worked with 6 companies...
We've worked with some of the biggest artists and entrepreneurs in the world and another 100+ companies on top of that. Who would you rather hire?

It's not about getting the lead, it's about turning attention → intention. We see what you do not as you see it, but as the world sees it. We play both sides.

👇

If you'd like your marketing to check a box, that's cool, we're not for you. 

We’re busy bringing creativity back. That raw, OG stylistic rap vibe. 

The kind that just hits different.

Coaches don't solve your problems. 

They help YOU solve your problems. 

Because the problem is a result of you.

I spent $22,400 on coaching. 

Our net profit is up.
We added 12 new clients. 
My mission and vision are clear.

Not as a result of the coaching. 

As a result of being coached. 

You don't hire coaches to get fixed. 

You hire them to get self-aware. 

🙌

PS: How much should you pay for coaching?

When I was 14, my grandpa asked me a question that would change my entire life. 

"Are you making money?"

Luckily, I was. 

Just got my first job at a gas station. 

My dad was happy I was working.
My mom was scared of the customers. 
My soccer coach got real, "I'll let you do both for now..."

My grandpa, Jim, learned the stock market in his 70's. He was tired of replacing tile floors for landlords on the weekend, so he became one.  

Financial advisors, like many of us, don't understand that the impact of the work isn't reflected in the numbers. 

Knowing I would get that question every time I saw grandpa Jim forced me to want to make money. He became my advisor by asking one question every time I saw him. 

That question was more impactful than any other money lesson until I read Rich Dad Poor Dad when I was 19. 

But that's a story for another day. 

#advisors

PS: Who impacted your money habits as a kid?

There are 2 types of founders.
Which one are you? 

🗣️ The Top-of-the-Funnel Founder 

These founders love to advertise. 

They can rake in thousands of likes and comments but struggle to move prospects through the funnel. They often hit a wall when trying to connect marketing with sales.

💰 The Bottom-of-the-Funnel Founder

These founders love closing deals. 

They’re great at converting leads but struggle with attracting the right prospects in the first place. They often miss the mark in reaching people who will eventually face the problem they solve.

👇

Here’s the deal:

Do founders really fall into just 2 categories? 

Of course not.

The goal of this exercise is to help you think in binary terms. This makes it easier to say, "yeah, I might need help with [x] piece of my funnel." We can't fix your marketing if we can't fix you. 

Self-awareness > tips and tricks 

#MarketingStrategy 

PS: Which type of founder are you? Sales, or marketing?

“So, you teach Financial Advisors how to podcast?”

---

No, you learn that on your own.

“Okay… so you teach them how to market?”

That’s part of it.

“So you create a content strategy?”

That comes first.

“And train their advisors to implement it?”

Exactly.

“And the podcast falls under that?”

Bingo. It's the engine that creates 80% of the content.

“So... does it take more time?”

90 minutes per month, often less. 

“Wait, so are you a podcasting company?”

We’re the only company that produces your podcast 𝘢𝘯𝘥 shows you how to add clients using it. 

"How does it work?" 

2 Podcast Episodes Per Month
5 Social Media Posts Per Week
2 Podcast Clips Per Day

"That's it?"

That's it! 

"How do I get started?" 

Right here 👉 podcastprinciples.com 

#podcasting  

PS: Our website is brand new! Do you like the redesign 👀

Open article: Podcast Principles by podcastprinciples.com

Not being boring doesn't mean putting on a show; it means talking about things you love. If you're a financial advisor, try cracking a joke, making fun of yourself, reacting to a Dave Ramsey video, or nerding out over your South African wine collection.

Some of our clients talk about the market. 

Some talk about their shoe collection. 

And they all get clients. 

They put themselves out there and don't care what you think, which makes you care what 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 think. 

So if you can start leaning into your own interests and turn that into content, you can be extremely successful in gathering new clients. 

PS: Our client and friend Mando Sallavanti III, CFP® literally posts pictures of his Nike collection, and he's crushing it.

Financial advisors are making LinkedIn way harder than it has to be, and that’s why other people are taking your clients faster than you can say, "401k."

https://lnkd.in/eNQSeK5X

Not because they’re smarter.
Not because they’re “better at content.”

Because they have a system.

Most advisors are doing random acts of content:

* a post for other advisors (the client repellent)
* a market update (prospects don't care)
* a broker-dealer graphic that puts us to sleep 😴

Then they wonder why nothing converts.

In this episode, I break down the 6-step system I’d use if I wanted to get clients (and yeah, it works for CPAs + law too).

Here’s what you’ll get:

✅ The first change I’d make to your targeting 
✅ How to turn your profile into a “pre-sell” page
✅ The minimum weekly posting cadence
✅ What to do daily so you’re not relying on hope
✅ The exact path from DM → call → client 

9 minutes to add as many clients as you want.

Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eNQSeK5X

Or don't and keep "networking."

#financialadvisors 

PS: If you’re still waiting for people to DM you first… you’ll either love or hate this episode.

Open video: LinkedIn for Advisors: How We Turn Posts Into Clients (Simple + Easy) on youtu.be

LinkedIn for Advisors: How We Turn Posts Into Clients (Simple + Easy)

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The Battle

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Ryan R. Sullivan

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