Be polite whenever possible. Polite writing in formal cases (like emails) will show customers and clients that you care about them.
Perhaps you’re wondering if “it was a pleasure speaking with you” is the best polite phrase to use.
This article has gathered some alternatives to help you understand how to say “it was a pleasure speaking with you” in an email.
Is It Professional to Say “It Was a Pleasure Speaking With You”?
It is professional to say “it was a pleasure speaking with you.” It’s one of the most common ways to address clients and customers after meeting them and discussing something.
We recommend using it as a formal phrase at the end of an email. You can also use it after an interview when you’ve met a potential new employer.
This example will show you how it works:
It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday, Marcus. Thank you so much for reaching out.
Pros
- It’s polite and professional.
- It shows you got a lot out of a meeting.
Cons
- It’s quite impersonal and generic.
- If you’re looking to build a lasting friendship, this might not be the most effective way.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with “it was a pleasure speaking with you.” It’s one of the best professional phrases. There are some alternatives worth exploring, though.
Keep reading to learn how to say “it was a pleasure speaking with you” in an email.
What to Say Instead of “It Was a Pleasure Speaking With You”
- It was good to talk to you
- I’m happy we could meet
- It was nice meeting you
- It was a pleasure to meet you
- Thank you for speaking with me
- I’m glad we had that meeting
- It was great to see you
- It was a pleasure to hear from you
- I’m glad we did this
1. It Was Good to Talk to You
If you’ve recently had an interview, it’s worth keeping in contact with the recruiter. That way, you can keep your name fresh in their mind and let them know you’re keen to work with them.
A phrase like “it was good to talk to you” is ideal here. It shows you were happy to meet someone at an interview.
You can use it when emailing employers. It’s a great way to let them see more about your professional character.
Perhaps this email example will also help you:
Dear Marcus,
It was good to talk to you yesterday. I look forward to hearing back from you about the progress of my application.
Yours,
Dean Smith
2. I’m Happy We Could Meet
For a more positive and friendly alternative, perhaps “I’m happy we could meet” is the best choice. It works well after a meeting with a client.
You can use this to keep a more friendly relationship with the recipient. It shows you’re happy to have met with them and discussed important matters.
Of course, this isn’t only limited to clients. It’s probably most effective when you’re looking to build strong connections. So, that could apply to clients, coworkers, or even your boss.
Here’s a great example to show you how it works:
Dear Mr. Smith,
I’m happy we could meet over the phone. Please let me know when you’re free to discuss this issue further.
Best,
Kim Tate
3. It Was Nice Meeting You
“It was nice meeting you” is another way to say “it was a pleasure speaking with you.” You’ve probably come across this before in professional emails because it’s quite a popular choice.
If you’re stuck for alternatives, you should use “it was nice meeting you.” After all, it doesn’t get more formal and friendly than that.
Try it when emailing customers. It shows you’re very happy to meet with them, whether you met in person, online, or over the phone.
You can also refer to this sample email:
Dear Suzanna,
It was nice meeting you over the phone. I hope we can set up an in-person meeting at some point in the near future.
Yours,
Benjamin Burton
4. It Was a Pleasure to Meet You
Try using “it was a pleasure to meet you” in some formal emails. It doesn’t change much about the original phrase, but it’s still a really effective one to include in your writing.
Generally, this is a simplistic way to show you really appreciated the chance to meet. We recommend using it when you respect the recipient and feel you learned a lot from them.
For instance, it works when emailing an employer. It might work well after an interview to show them you’re keen to hear back from them, especially if you’re excited about the role.
Also, here’s a useful email sample to show you how to use it:
Dear Saul,
It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you contact me again soon when you have more information you deem relevant.
Best regards,
Amy Adams
5. Thank You for Speaking With Me
Another way to say “it was a pleasure speaking with you” is “thank you for speaking with me.” It’s more polite and appreciative, making it an excellent choice after you’ve met with a business partner.
You can try using this at the start of a formal email. It shows you truly appreciate someone for reaching out and speaking with you.
After all, starting an email with “thank you” is a great way to get in the recipient’s good books. It shows how thankful you are and that you really appreciate the meeting.
Check out the following sample email if you’re still stuck:
Dear Russell,
Thank you for speaking with me, as always. You always seem to know the best ways to handle these situations.
Kind regards,
George Laughlin
6. I’m Glad We Had That Meeting
There’s no reason to avoid an honest and positive phrase in formal writing. You can be as friendly and excited as you want when emailing people in formal capacities.
For example, “I’m glad we had that meeting” is quite a friendly alternative to “it was a pleasure speaking with you.” However, it still works incredibly well and helps you to build a connection with the recipient.
We recommend using this when emailing new clients. It shows you felt like the meeting was productive, and you learned a lot about what they expect from your company.
This email example will also help you to understand it:
Dear Kingston,
I’m glad we had that meeting. It helped me to understand more about what you want to do with the project going forward.
Best regards,
Sam Scott
7. It Was Great to See You
Feel free to try “it was great to see you” as a more friendly synonym. It’s effective after a meeting, especially if you always enjoy meeting with the person.
Let’s say you’ve just met with an important client. You can use “it was great to see you” to let them know you had a good time meeting with them.
It’s a valuable way to maintain a positive relationship. It keeps a friendly rapport with the client, showing that you care about what they say during meetings.
You can also check out the following sample email:
Dear Bethany,
It was great to see you, as always. I certainly hope you sort out the problems on your end. Let me know if you need help.
Yours,
Yuri Zeus
8. It Was a Pleasure to Hear From You
There’s nothing wrong with including “a pleasure” in your emails. After all, phrases using “a pleasure” tend to be some of the more common formal alternatives.
So, to keep things formal and similar, try “it was a pleasure to hear from you.”
Of course, it’s very similar to the original phrase “it was a pleasure speaking with you.” However, you can use it as a friendly message after a meeting.
Try it when contacting clients. It shows you appreciate spending the time to get to discuss important matters.
This email sample will also help you with it:
Dear Ms. Young,
It was a pleasure to hear from you over the phone. I’ll be in touch again as soon as I have something new to share with you.
Kind regards,
George Weiss
9. I’m Glad We Did This
Let’s finish up with a friendly and informal alternative. You can write “I’m glad we did this” in more conversational emails to show someone how happy you were to meet with them.
But when does a phrase like this apply conversationally?
Generally, you can write “I’m glad we did this” when emailing customers. It shows you’re happy to hear from them and already have a well-established friendship to work with.
Also, here’s a helpful example to show you how to use it:
Dear Miss Reich,
I’m glad we did this again. It was nice to discuss matters so openly. I hope it helped you to understand our progress.
All the best,
Brendan Mulligan