Formal interactions are just some of those challenges that no one prepares you for, although everyone seems to know how to handle them. In a casual conversation, someone might say, “Nice to meet you,” and you’ll confidently respond with “You, too.”
But what if we take this seemingly simple interaction and move it to email?
That’s when they’ll hit you with the dreaded “Good to connect with you,” leaving you unsure how to respond. But never fear because we’ll prepare you for this interaction and similar ones.
Best Response to “Good to Connect with You”
Simply put, you can reply to “Good to connect with you” by saying, “Thank you, sir/madam.” After all, you’re responding to a compliment.
With that sorted out, what’s the typical context for such an interaction? And what other similar phrases do you need to be prepared for? Keep reading to find out.
Understanding the Context
Understanding the context and the goal behind an interaction will help you respond more confidently. To illustrate, people mostly use “Good to connect with you” to replace “Nice to meet you” in an email or so.
To start an introduction email, they might express their gratitude to you, which is why they might say “Good to connect with you.” And they do it out of politeness.
Still, why would they phrase it that way? As we’ve mentioned, the common “Nice to meet you” makes more sense in face-to-face interactions than virtual ones.
Since “connect” doesn’t say anything about the type of interaction, people resort to the more general verb. For example, they might say “Good to connect with you” or “It’s great connecting with you.”
With that context in mind, replying “Thank you, sir/madam” sounds right. It mirrors the same politeness of the sender’s phrase and maintains the formality of email writing. However, simply replying “Nice to meet you, too” won’t be wrong either.
Why Responding Correctly Matters
Is it important to know how to respond to “Good to connect with you?” You were right to google the question because writing good emails makes all the difference, and communication skills are everything in the workplace.
Indeed, how you write your business emails or reply to a message to LinkedIn connections will define the impression the receiver will make of you or your organization. If your email or message is written poorly or its awkward tone doesn’t match the context, you’ll give a bad first impression.
If the introduction came about through a mutual contact, you also want to make sure that they don’t regret recommending contacting you.
In addition, companies tend to reward more employees that can communicate clearly and professionally with external stakeholders. So, professional email writing certainly plays into career advancement.
Good communication skills help set the tone for fruitful collaborations and relationships, contributing to your company’s growth.
Common mistakes are using boring words, non-personalized messages, excessively trying to emphasize your personal brand, or focusing on your own needs.
Phrases Similar to “Good to Connect With You”
When people begin an email correspondence, they use phrases other than “Nice to meet you,” and you want to be prepared to answer all of them. So, let’s tackle 4 similar phrases.
1. “How Do You Do?”
People may start their emails by asking about your health. It’s a formal phrase, and it’s especially common in Britain.
To respond, you can say for example:
“I’m doing well, thank you”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
This way, you’d be mindful of the interaction’s formality.
2. “Delighted to Make Your Acquaintance”
This phrase is synonymous with “Good to connect with you,” yet it’s on a whole other level of formality. It’s even more formal than “How do you do?”.
In response, you can repeat the same phrase to the person saying it.
3. “I’m Looking Forward to Working With You”
This phrase is more specific than “Good to connect with you,” establishing that you’re in a working relationship. It’s a formal expression of excitement for the future partnership.
The easiest response would be:
However, if you were just hired you can say: “Thank you very much for the opportunity”.
And if you’re doing the hiring, you can respond with: “Welcome to the company.”
4. “I’ve Heard Great Things About You”
This is another way people begin a correspondence, demonstrating the person’s eagerness to establish a relationship with you. But more than that, it validates your skills and experience.
So, how do you respond to that?
A diplomatic response would be, “I’ve heard a lot about you as well,” but there are many other ways to respond to this phrase. A simple “Thank you” will always do the job, too.
Final Thoughts
Although “Good to connect with you” might sound awkward, it makes more sense than “Nice to meet you” in emails, as they don’t involve any physical interactions. Building a professional network is important for career growth and can start with a simple email exchange. An excellent response to the phrase would be “Thank you, sir/madam.”
This response reflects the same degree of politeness and formality as the first statement, which is important in email writing. You maintain a professional attitude and enhance your communication skills by paying attention to these details!
Katie Holmes is a senior author at everyday-courtesy.com with over 15 years of experience in marketing and psychology. As a freelance consultant, she also supports companies and executives in overcoming communication challenges. Katie is a passionate digital nomad working on her first book on the art of communication.