Meeting someone online has become a normal part of professional and personal life. But the phrase “nice to e-meet you” has been repeated so many times in emails, Slack messages, and video calls that it barely registers anymore. Having a few natural alternatives ready helps you make a genuine first impression, match the right tone for the situation, and avoid sounding like everyone else in someone’s inbox.
For Professional Emails and First Introductions
These work well when you’re reaching out to a new client, colleague, or collaborator for the first time.
1. “Great to connect with you.”
Clean and professional. Works in almost any business context, including email openers and LinkedIn messages. It doesn’t sound forced.
2. “I’m glad we finally had the chance to connect.”
Good when there’s been some back-and-forth before the actual introduction — a referral, a shared event, or mutual contact. The word “finally” adds a natural warmth.
3. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Formal, but appropriately so for senior executives, international business contacts, or industries where traditional etiquette still matters (law, finance, academia). Don’t use it in casual startup culture.
4. “Glad to be in touch.”
Relaxed but still professional. Works best in follow-up messages or when someone has already initiated contact.
5. “I’ve been looking forward to connecting with you.”
Shows genuine interest. Use this when you mean it — when the person’s work is something you’ve actually followed or their name came up in a relevant conversation.
6. “It’s great to put a name to the work I’ve admired.”
Specific and memorable. Only use when you genuinely know something about what they do. Empty flattery backfires quickly.
7. “Thanks for taking the time to connect.”
Acknowledges that the other person made an effort. Good when someone agreed to a call, demo, or intro meeting they didn’t have to take.
8. “I’m happy we could set this up.”
Natural and low-key. Works well in video call openers when scheduling took a few tries.
For Casual or Friendly Professional Contexts
These suit startups, creative agencies, remote teams, and places where formal language would feel stiff.
9. “Really glad we finally linked up.”
Conversational and warm. Good for Slack introductions or video calls with new teammates.
10. “Great to virtually cross paths.”
A playful nod to the online context without leaning too hard on the word “virtual.” Works in industries that don’t take themselves too seriously.
11. “So happy to meet you — even if it’s through a screen.”
Honest and human. Acknowledges the reality of remote connection without making it awkward.
12. “Glad to finally have a face to go with the name.”
Only appropriate after a video call where you actually saw them. Don’t use in an email opener where no video is involved.
13. “Happy to be on the same (virtual) team.”
For new colleagues joining a remote project or onboarding call. The parenthetical keeps it light without overdoing it.
14. “Looking forward to working with you — great to meet first.”
Efficient. It acknowledges the introduction and moves naturally toward the work ahead, which is often what both people actually want.
For Networking and LinkedIn Connections
Networking messages need to work harder because they often reach people who didn’t expect them. Short, specific, and genuine beats polite and generic every time.
15. “Thanks for accepting my request — I’ve been following your work on [topic].”
The most effective option on this list for cold LinkedIn outreach, but only when you fill in that blank honestly.
16. “Glad we’re now connected.”
Simple and low-pressure. Works as an opener when you don’t want to immediately pitch or explain yourself.
17. “It’s great to expand my network with someone doing such interesting work in [field].”
Specific enough to feel genuine, general enough to work across contexts. Avoid it if you can’t say something specific about the field.
18. “Happy to connect — your post on [topic] really made me think.”
Shows you actually read something they wrote. Strong opener for starting a real conversation.
19. “Glad to finally connect after seeing your name come up in [context].”
Works when someone was recommended, mentioned in a group, or appeared in a shared community. Tells them how you found them, which people appreciate.
For Video Calls
The first thirty seconds of a video call set the tone. These alternatives to “nice to e-meet you” feel more natural when spoken out loud.
20. “Wonderful to finally see you.”
Natural in speech. Warmer than “nice to meet you” without being over the top.
21. “It’s so good to actually talk — I feel like I know you from your emails.”
Only works when there has been genuine prior email exchange. It acknowledges that relationship and makes the transition from text to video feel smooth.
22. “Great to see you in (virtual) person.”
A light, self-aware phrase that many people use naturally. Not groundbreaking, but more genuine than “e-meet.”
23. “I’ve heard so much about you — great to finally meet.”
Works when a mutual contact made the introduction. Make sure you follow through with something specific if asked what you heard.
24. “Really glad you could make the time for this.”
Respects the other person’s schedule. Good for calls where they’ve done you a favor by showing up.
For Email Replies When Someone Introduces Themselves First
When someone else initiates and introduces themselves, your reply needs to match their energy without just mirroring their words back.
25. “Likewise — glad to be in touch.”
Short, natural, and it works in almost every situation.
26. “The feeling is mutual — looking forward to working together.”
Slightly warmer. Good when the introduction is for a specific collaboration or project.
27. “Thanks for reaching out — really glad to connect.”
Clean and appreciative. Works when you weren’t expecting the message.
28. “What a small world — glad we found each other.”
For situations where a connection was made through an unexpected mutual contact or shared context.
When You Want to Sound More Original
Sometimes the most memorable thing is saying something honest rather than polished.
29. “Honestly, I’m glad we’re finally doing this — I’ve been meaning to reach out for a while.”
Real and refreshing. Only say it when it’s true.
30. “This is a long time coming — glad we’re here.”
For introductions that have been building for months through referrals, shared events, or industry overlap.
31. “I’m genuinely glad to meet you.”
The simplest alternative on this list. Dropping “nice” and replacing it with “genuinely” shifts the phrase from a formality into something that actually means something.
Choosing the Right One
The phrase you choose depends on three things: the relationship (professional, casual, or somewhere between), the medium (email, video call, or chat), and whether there’s any prior context (referral, shared community, prior emails).
A cold email to an executive calls for something brief and respectful. A Slack introduction to a new teammate can be warmer and more relaxed. A video call opener needs to work spoken out loud, which rules out anything that sounds natural only in writing.
When in doubt, shorter and more specific beats longer and more generic. “Glad we could finally connect after you spoke at [event]” will always outperform “It is a pleasure to make your virtual acquaintance.”
A Note on “E-Meet” Itself
The word “e-meet” is understood, but it can feel dated or slightly awkward to some readers, particularly in more formal industries. Most of the alternatives above sidestep the prefix entirely by focusing on the connection itself — “glad to connect,” “great to be in touch,” “happy we could link up” — rather than labeling the medium. That tends to read more naturally across different audiences.
Read more posts:
28 Ways to Say “Above and Beyond” (That Actually Sound Natural)
34 Other Ways to Say “I Would Love To”
30 Other Ways to Say “Sorry to Hear That”
I write clear, practical English lessons for everyday use. On Lingotexting, I break down grammar, vocabulary, and word types into simple ideas you can apply quickly. My focus is accuracy, real examples, and helpful visuals, so learners build confidence, improve writing, and communicate naturally in school, work, and daily life.