Short: Google Discover Is Coming to Desktop: What Publishers Need to Know

Google Discover, previously available only on mobile, is set to expand to desktop, as confirmed during the Google Search Central Live event in Madrid This expansion is already in limited rollout for logged-in users, suggesting a significant shift in content engagement from Google's homepage.

Google Discover functions as a personalized content feed that curates articles, videos, and other media based on users' interests and online activity, rather than relying on search queries This makes it more akin to a social feed than a traditional search engine.

For publishers, Google Discover has become an essential traffic driver, with over half of news publishers prioritizing it strategically The move to desktop broadens Discover’s reach, offering content visibility across multiple devices.

To effectively monitor the impact of Discover on desktop, publishers can use Google Analytics 4 by filtering traffic sources with the pubsub2 referrer and adding a device filter for "Desktop" While Google Search Console supports Discover reporting, device-specific filtering is not yet available.

Successful content on Discover does not require technical tweaks like schema markup Instead, it should be high-quality, visually appealing, and aligned with user interests. Discover favors engaging, entertaining, and emotionally resonant content over hard news.

To grow through Discover, publishers should combine editorial insights with audience data, monitor content performance across devices, and encourage repeat visits through newsletters and push notifications

Crafting headlines that spark curiosity can help grab attention, but consistency in producing Discover-friendly content is key to building credibility and long-term success

The introduction of Google Discover on desktop is more than just a feature update It represents a major opportunity for publishers to reach new audiences without relying on traditional search intent, potentially becoming a significant traffic source.

As the full rollout unfolds, publishers should review their content strategies, track emerging patterns, and focus on formats that perform well on Discover to maximize their reach and engagement