We’re thrilled to share the incredible success of the 2024 Railroad Days marketing campaign, which brought even more excitement to Council Bluffs. Thanks to a targeted digital advertising strategy, the event attracted visitors from across the region, driving increased engagement and broadening its impact
A Wider Reach Than Ever Before
Through a combination of Google Ads and Facebook promotions, we reached a much larger audience than in previous years. Our campaigns focused on getting the word out not just to Council Bluffs locals but also to potential visitors from nearby cities like Omaha, Des Moines, Lincoln, and even further afield in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota.
The results were beyond expectations! Thousands of people clicked through to the Railroad Days landing page, and many of those visitors also engaged with our event on Facebook. This broad reach meant that Railroad Days was top-of-mind for a huge number of people, from first-time visitors to long-time fans of the event. The buzz surrounding this year’s festival went beyond our local community.
Engagement and Excitement Skyrocketed
Facebook proved to be a powerful tool for generating excitement around the event. With more than 1.5 million impressions and 18,000 clicks, the campaign surpassed expectations, generating double the engagement we had initially set as our goal. This shows just how interested people are in our unique community celebrations and how effective our online efforts were in catching their attention.
People were not just seeing our posts—they were clicking to learn more, RSVPing for the event, and sharing the excitement with friends. The enthusiasm for Railroad Days was contagious, helping to spread the word and build anticipation.
A Boost in Website Traffic
The impact of this campaign wasn’t just on social media. The increased engagement translated directly to our website, where we saw an impressive 16% growth in pageviews compared to last year. With more people visiting the Railroad Days landing page to check out the event schedule, explore activities, and plan their visits, it’s clear that our digital outreach had a major influence on event turnout.
This surge in traffic also means that more people are discovering the beauty and excitement of Council Bluffs online, positioning our city as a destination for future events, festivals, and activities.
Trolley Stops: A Major Hit for Local Attractions
One of the highlights of this year’s Railroad Days was the Trolley Stops, which provided convenient transport to some of Council Bluffs' top attractions. Here’s a look at the incredible numbers:
- Union Pacific Railroad Museum: 1,201 visitors, 840 trolley riders
- PACE | Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center: 750 visitors, 542 trolley riders
- Railswest Railroad Museum: 658 visitors, 658 trolley riders
- Historic General Dodge House: 439 visitors, 437 trolley riders
- 100 Block of West Broadway: 218 trolley riders
- Bayliss Park (712 Initiative Visitor Engagement): 175-200 visitors
- Former Jefferson's Lounge - N Scale Model Train: 100 visitors
These numbers show how well the event brought people to our local venues and helped make Railroad Days a true community celebration.
A Strong Foundation for Future Events
Thanks to the overwhelming response to this year’s campaign, we’re excited for what lies ahead. Railroad Days' success in 2024 has set the stage for even bigger events in the future, with an ever-growing audience eager to visit and experience what our community has to offer.
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made Railroad Days a success—whether you attended, shared our posts, or simply showed your support for the event. Special thanks go to the Iowa West Foundation for its generous financial backing and the Union Pacific Railroad for underwriting the event’s advertising efforts. Their support played a critical role in driving the success of this event.
The energy and enthusiasm generated this year will carry forward, helping to drive even more excitement and visitors to Council Bluffs in the months to come.
With the momentum from this campaign, we’re more confident than ever in the future of Council Bluffs as a destination for fun, community, and UNforgettable experiences. We can’t wait to see you at the next big event!
