Sideqik Stories: From Fitness Influencer to Influencing Business

in Influencer Marketing, Influencer Programs, Influencers

For years I’ve been striving to align my passions with my career. I was told so many times, “give it time, sometimes you just have to do things to get to where you want to be,” but I couldn’t wait or fathom waking up not doing something I loved.

With that in mind, I started my two journeys, one professionally and one personally as a fitness influencer, years ago. I was eager that one day they would align forces. As a journalism major, I jumped into the ever-evolving world of digital marketing right out of school.

Transitioning to Influencer Marketing

While I enjoyed writing, PR, SEO, and social media I was constantly hustling for more fulfillment on the side. The side hustle is real and so deserving! I began working at a running store alongside my full-time desk job of writing content. During this time I just started training for my first marathon.

Lucky me, I was able to get selected to run the Chicago Marathon (Chicago marathon is a random drawing with a non-guarantee-entry, I was sure I wouldn’t get randomly drawn) but there I was. I started my solo marathon-running journey and just became overly passionate about running. I found myself waking up at all hours just to feel some miles before going into my second “job” of working in digital marketing.

Fitness Discipline in Marketing

Marathon training tactics and discipline weren’t only making me a better runner, but they were changing my lifestyle. I was on top of things at work, I was eager for more miles or more projects at my full-time job and I continued to advance. From one marathon to 13 in 5 years along with job changes I was progressing in my overall life.

Through this time I was not only able to connect with myself but so many individuals in the community. The hybrid personality and career path I had formed, from grinding out miles alone (introverted) to showing up to a social media photo shoot for Mizuno (extrovert) proved to be the ultimate combo.

From Fitness Influencer to Influencing Business

Over the years I found myself passionate about what I was doing and indirectly inspiring others. I’m currently a Lululemon Run Ambassador for Atlanta, a Flywheel Instructor and a full-time Customer Success Manager for Sideqik. I’ve taken my personal and professional experiences and aligned forces. Something everyone said had to be separate. But here we are 🙂

Through the years of agency work, brand work, and technology; my versatile background has me collaborating with some top brands in search of working with influencers who are just like me and my community. The community of people I’m immersed in near and far provides me insight and inspiration for my personal and professional life that is invaluable.

All that being said, an influencer is someone that has the potential to inspire, motivate or move you; purchasing behaviors and beyond. Influencer Marketing is today’s word of mouth marketing in its best form. We are all influencers in some sense 🙂

Denae is a Lululemon Run Ambassador, Flywheel Fitness Instructor and Full-Time Influencer Marketing Guru at Sideqik here in Atlanta. She started running just 5 years ago and continues to align her passion of community and running to inspire others in the office and outside. While running the Boston Marathon a few times is fulfilling, nothing tops running Tuesday night with her run crew. A Kansas native who now calls Atlanta home, she’s usually exploring Atlanta through miles followed by a cup of post-run coffee with her fiancé and dog on a regular basis.