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.

I posted on LinkedIn for the first time in 2023 after deleting it for an entire year...it changed my life. 

Here are 12 things that happened since my first post:

 1. Got featured on Forbes 4x times
 2. Became an investor for @Neutonic
 3. Been on my dream podcasts and events
 4. Moved to my dream apartment in London
 5. Built 3x businesses making 6 and 7 figures
 6. Built a community of 310,000 people on here
 7. Sold out a programme in 7 days made $200k
 8. Flew my parents in business class a few times
 9. Became friends with people I used to learn from
10. Scaled an Kleo to multi-6 figures in <4 months
11. Became LinkedIn's #1 Female Creator worldwide
12. Traveled around the world to speak at conferences

The CRAZIEST part? There's nothing special to me.
I was just a student trying to get a job after university.

Turns out that 1 single decision can change your life. 

If you've been waiting for a "sign" here it is. 

Remember my friend: the cost of being invisible is the opportunities you never get access to. 

PS: Drop ONE question you have about LinkedIn growth? 

PPS: I'm hosting a 3-day LIVE FREE challenge for LinkedIn Growth... join me here: https://lnkd.in/e3SHsCjw

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!

"Speak at the London School of Economics, for my dad"

I've had this as a goal for over 3 years. 

Last night, that dream I used to journal about came true.

When I started posting on LinkedIn, I had nothing to talk about. No "big" qualifications. No industry connections.

Just me, poor writing skills and a free LinkedIn account.

Weeks later, I'd gotten my first freelance clients.
Months later, I started building a marketing agency.
A year later it crossed 6-figures while I was at university. 

Not because I had the "perfect" plan.

But because I was willing to go for it without it. 

Post 4x a week about a skill you have.
Comment 10x more than you post (please).
Write about your story, not just what you know. 

That's it, the rest you'll figure out later. 

Start before you "feel" ready. Do it scared.

Make your family proud, just like I did mine. 🫶 

PS: What is your dream, tell me about it!

PPS: I'm hosting a 3-day LIVE FREE challenge for LinkedIn Growth... join me here: https://lnkd.in/e3SHsCjw

We ranked popular business books and got 494k views.

After reading over 200+ business books and building businesses... Timothy and I had VERY honest takes. 

Drop your list of books below so we can rank those next!

PS: Think and Grow Rich will ALWAYS be a staple for me!

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

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!

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!

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?

Last time I did this, 8,000 people signed up. 

I'm running a FREE 3-day LinkedIn Content Challenge.

Look I've built multiple 6 and 7 figures using LinkedIn.

Helped 100s of students and clients to the same.

Seen them grow from 0 to 100k followers.
Seen them go from $0 to $100k too.

The blueprint works. 

I'll be covering:

1. How I'm getting my clients to WIN on LinkedIn in 2026.
2. The exact "attention" playbook I use to get clients 
3. How I actually scaled from $10k/mo to $100k/mo

But... this time I'm not "just" teaching.

Every single day, you and I will be building your $100k business using content on LinkedIn LIVE. 

Starting February 26th - I'll be showing you exactly how. 

Register for the 3 Day Live Event here: https://lnkd.in/e3SHsCjw

PS: Comment "fast" below if you want a fast-track for this exact outcome and get started today. 

Over 200+ pages of content already. 100s of documents researched. But only 1 strategy remains true... 

It's time to peel back the curtain.

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?

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.

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?

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

Lara Acosta

Ryan R. Sullivan

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Performance ScoreLara Acosta's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRyan R. Sullivan's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Lara Acosta

Ryan R. Sullivan

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Lara Acosta's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreRyan R. Sullivan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreLara Acosta's LinkedIn Performance