Seriously it's to a virgin email address only associated with our Webmaster Tools account; Subject: Link http://www.xxxxxxx.com/ to the xxxxxx Google+ page has sent you a request to link http://www.xxxxx.com/ to the xxxxxx Google+ page. Linking a Google+ page to a website not only helps build relationships with friends and followers, but also makes a page eligible to show up on the right-hand side of search for relevant queries which may make the page more discoverable. I'm going to write back and tell them we only do paid links and see what they say
Well as I mentioned the email it came to is only used for our Google accounts. I didn't mention the replyto address; wmt-noreply @ google.com I realise these fields are easily faked and I understand everyone's scepticism - would someone at Google really ask for a backlink?
someone actually sent you a request on your page for linking it, just like when someone adds you as a mod and google sends you a notification
Nothing strange about this. They are simply promoting their Google+ service and asking you to link up an existing site to a G+ profile, since they already know through Webmaster Tools (or Analytics) that you are the owner.
Knocks (above) is right. Google is not wanting a link from you to google.com. They are wanting you to link your website and your google+ page. That is a good thing to do.
I do not think this is for back-links if that request is really from Google then it is just to promote their Google Plus and not to get the back-link. I have also seen at many places that Google will recommend using Google plus.
Interesting, I've not heard of this approach before by Google, but like you say if it's come from a top level domain then it sounds legit, all the best with it!
Well www.google.com went from PR10 to PR9 last year, so I'd imagine Google has some ground here to make up
Really interesting thing, I knew here... If this is the way, then link exchange is not black hat technique?
Well there are link exchanges via arrangements such as; "I'll put your link amongst this page of crap if you include me on this page of poo" and there are agreements to link to each other for mutual benefits eg exposure and traffic. I'd say the former is useless - call it black hat if you like; I dont know, but the latter usually works well for everyone.
It is something related to Google Authorship. Like they ask you to connect your G+ profile with your site, so you will get your photo and name in rich snippets and so on. But indeed, it does look like a link exchange request. Write them back that you only post paid links and list your prices xD
It is good that Google interest in your site. You can do a test to see whether such linking will positively affect the value of your hand. If Google will cooperate with your website it can go with the noticeable benefits.
Google beaten by Twitter, after all Twitter has a PR10 and Google has a 9. lol G must have some strong grounds here