When meeting someone for the first time, you should try to retain a polite tone. You might be tempted to use something like “nice to meet you” in an email.
However, is it the most professional option?
This article will explore some alternatives to show you another way to say “nice to meet you.”
Is It Professional to Say “Nice to Meet You”?
It is professional to say “nice to meet you.” It’s formal and works well when addressing someone in an email after a meeting (whether you’re meeting them in person or virtually).
It works for both physical and virtual meetings. You do not have to physically “meet” someone to use a phrase like this.
Here’s a helpful example to show you how it works:
It was nice to meet you the other day. I certainly hope we can stay in touch.
Pros
- It’s well-rounded for both in-person and virtual meetings.
- It’s very polite.
Cons
- It’s quite generic.
- There are more interesting options available.
“Nice to meet you” is certainly one of the better choices in a formal email. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use a few alternatives to spice things up.
Keep reading to learn more synonyms for “nice to meet you” in a formal email. You can also review the examples we provide.
What to Say Instead of “Nice to Meet You”
- Nice to talk to you
- Good to get to know you
- Happy to meet you
- Glad to talk to you
- Nice to have a conversation
- Happy to hear from you
- Great to make your acquaintance
- Great to learn from you
- Nice to see you
1. Nice to Talk to You
You can include “nice to talk to you” instead of “nice to meet you” when meeting someone for the first time. It’s a good choice if you’re meeting someone via email.
Using “talk” instead of “meet” suggests there isn’t a physical meeting. So, it’s good to include it after an e-meeting with someone (where only a video call was used).
We recommend using it after meeting a client. It shows that you had a great time talking to them and learning more about them or their business.
You may also review this example:
Dear Brian,
It was nice to talk to you on Friday. I certainly feel like I learned a lot from you and your team.
All the best,
Carla Crooksfoot
2. Good to Get to Know You
For a more friendly alternative, you can write “good to get to know you.” It’s great to include in slightly more informal situations.
We recommend using it after meeting a new colleague. It’s a good way to start building a strong relationship with them, especially if you’re interested in working closely with them.
You can use this for in-person and virtual meetings. Therefore, it’s one of the more versatile choices on this list.
Here’s a great email example to help you understand it better:
Dear Benjamin,
It was good to get to know you. I hope we can arrange another meeting in the coming weeks to discuss this further.
All the best,
Michael Keane
3. Happy to Meet You
Another way to say “nice to meet you” is “happy to meet you.” Of course, it’s not all that different from the original phrase. However, “happy” is a great replacement for “nice.”
You should use this after meeting a client online. Using a word like “happy” is a positive way to build a good foundation with them.
It also tends to work both for virtual and physical meetings.
The friendly tone that comes along with this is what allows it to stand out. We highly recommend using it if you like the recipient and enjoyed meeting with them.
If you’re still stuck, review the following email sample:
Dear Ryan,
I was happy to meet you virtually. It was nice to be able to discuss things so openly while video calling.
Yours,
Russell Madrid
4. Glad to Talk to You
You can use “glad to talk to you” in a follow-up email after meeting with someone. It’s incredibly useful in more friendly situations, showing that you enjoyed getting to know someone.
Generally, this phrase works best when talking to new clients.
You’ll have more luck including it after an in-person meeting. The implication is that you had a great time learning from someone in person and sharing your ideas.
Of course, you’re not only limited to clients when using it. Feel free to use it in any situation that requires a slightly more conversational tone.
Perhaps this example will also help you:
Dear Katie,
I was glad to talk to you yesterday. It was nice to sit down in person and discuss these things more honestly.
Kind regards,
Lewis Sutton
5. Nice to Have a Conversation
It’s always worth having a conversation (or meeting) with someone to clear things up. Whether you have the conversation in-person, via video chat, or over email, this phrase is useful.
Use “nice to have a conversation” instead of “nice to meet you” if you felt like the meeting was productive.
It shows you enjoyed discussing things with the recipient of the email.
This phrase is quite versatile, too. You can use it regardless of the recipient. It will work with your boss, other colleagues, clients, and even customers.
As long as you feel like you got a productive conversation out of a meeting, feel free to try this phrase.
Here’s a great email example to show you how it works:
Dear Martina,
It was nice to have a conversation with you online. I’m glad we could meet and discuss things more.
Best regards,
Tony Marsh
6. Happy to Hear From You
To put a more positive spin on “nice to meet you,” try “happy to hear from you.” It works well in formal emails after meeting with someone.
The only thing to be conscious of here is how “hear from you” works.
Generally, you should use “hear from you” when someone contacts you first rather than the other way around.
So, you should use it when someone else sets up a meeting. If they sought you out to ask for a meeting, this phrase is going to work wonders in your follow-up email.
Also, check out this email sample:
Dear Kylie,
I was happy to hear from you on Monday. Please let me know when you’re free for another meeting.
Yours,
Duncan Breach
7. Great to Make Your Acquaintance
When meeting someone for the first time, you might not want to make your follow-up email too friendly. Keep things formal and respectful with “great to make your acquaintance.”
This works best when emailing new employees. It shows you’re happy to meet them, but you don’t want them to see you as a friend.
After all, if you’re the boss, you need to keep a more professional tone about you. Then, you’re more likely to receive the respect you need from new employees.
Here’s a good email example if you’re still unsure:
Dear Charlotte,
It was great to make your acquaintance. Please refer to the attachment to find out more about what comes next.
Kind regards,
Melissa Drawbridge
8. Great to Learn From You
Meetings can often help us discuss and learn things from others. Therefore, “great to learn from you” is useful in most formal emails after a productive meeting.
For instance, you can use “great to learn from you” when emailing a new boss. It shows you are grateful to meet with them and discuss problems you might need solving.
The better your impression of a new boss, the more likely you’ll be to climb the ranks later. If you can get on your boss’s good side early, you’ll find your work life is much more comfortable.
This sample email should also help you with it:
Dear Abbie,
It was great to learn from you yesterday. I knew you would be able to talk me through the system.
Yours,
Barry Tayler
9. Nice to See You
Generally, “nice to meet you” is already a great choice in professional emails. You won’t often have to change much about it if you want a formal tone.
However, you can mix “meet” and “see,” creating “nice to see you” as an alternative.
“Nice to see you” is a great way to follow up after a virtual meeting. “See” generally works better when you didn’t physically meet someone in person.
Here’s a great example to help you understand it:
Dear Mr. Smith,
It was nice to see you virtually. I’m glad we got the chance to discuss these matters. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Best wishes,
Dean Burden