"It Was a Pleasure Meeting You" Email: 7 Templates That Get Replies
You met someone interesting at a conference, sales meeting, or networking event. Now you need to follow up. The "it was a pleasure meeting you" email is the most common post-meeting follow-up, and most people get it wrong.
They either wait too long, write something generic, or forget to include a next step. Here are 7 templates that avoid all three mistakes.
When to send your follow-up
| Timing | Response rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Within 2 hours | Highest | Sales meetings, hot leads |
| Same day | Very high | Conferences, networking events |
| Next morning | High | Evening events, dinners |
| 2–3 days later | Moderate | Only if you need to prepare something first |
| 1+ week later | Low | Don't do this |
If you need to request the meeting in the first place, see our meeting request email templates.
What makes a great post-meeting email
| Good follow-up | Bad follow-up |
|---|---|
| References something specific you discussed | "It was nice meeting you" with nothing else |
| Delivers on any promise you made | Forgets the article/resource you said you'd share |
| Suggests a clear next step | Ends with "let's keep in touch" (vague) |
| Sent within 24 hours | Sent a week later when they've forgotten you |
| 3–5 sentences | A full-page essay about your company |
You had a great conversation at a networking event last night. When should you send your follow-up?
Right! The next morning is perfect for evening events. The conversation is still fresh, and it shows you're organized and genuinely interested.
Follow up the next morning. After evening events, a same-day email can feel rushed, but waiting more than 24 hours means they may forget details of your conversation.
7 "pleasure meeting you" email templates
1. After a networking event
Subject: Great connecting at [Event Name]
Hi [Name],
It was a pleasure meeting you at [event] last night. Your perspective on [specific topic you discussed] really resonated with me, especially [specific point].
I mentioned [resource/article/tool], here's the link: [URL]
Would love to continue the conversation over coffee sometime. Are you free [suggest specific day]?
[Your name]
2. After a conference
Subject: Your point about [topic] at [Conference]
Hi [Name],
Great meeting you at [conference]. I've been thinking about what you said regarding [specific topic], particularly [specific insight]. That's not something I'd considered before.
I'm working on something related at [your company]. Would be great to compare notes. Are you open to a quick call next week?
[Your name]
3. After a sales meeting
Subject: Next steps from our meeting
Hi [Name],
Thank you for taking the time to meet today. I appreciated learning about [their specific challenge/goal you discussed].
As promised, I've attached [proposal/case study/pricing]. The key point from our conversation: [summarize how your solution addresses their specific need].
What does your calendar look like [specific day] to discuss next steps?
[Your name]
For more cold sales outreach scenarios, check our sales prospecting email templates.
4. After a job interview
Subject: Thank you for the conversation about the [Role] position
Hi [Name],
It was a pleasure meeting with you today. I enjoyed learning about [specific project or team detail they mentioned] and how the [role] fits into [their goal].
Our conversation reinforced my excitement about the opportunity. I'm particularly drawn to [specific aspect that came up in the interview].
Looking forward to hearing about next steps. Thank you again for your time.
[Your name]
5. After a casual introduction
Subject: Nice meeting you through [Mutual contact]
Hi [Name],
Great meeting you at [context]. [Mutual contact] was right that we should connect, your work on [specific thing] is impressive.
I'd love to hear more about [something they mentioned]. Happy to share what we've learned about [related topic] too.
Free for a quick chat sometime this week?
[Your name]
6. After a business lunch or dinner
Subject: Enjoyed our lunch conversation
Hi [Name],
Thank you for lunch today. I really enjoyed our discussion about [specific topic], especially your take on [specific point].
I looked into [thing you said you'd check on], and here's what I found: [brief insight or link].
Let's do this again soon. I'll reach out in a couple of weeks.
[Your name]
7. After a virtual meeting
Subject: Good connecting today
Hi [Name],
Thanks for the call today. It was great putting a face to the name. Your insight about [specific topic] was exactly what I needed to hear.
I'm going to [specific action based on the conversation]. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.
Talk soon,
[Your name]
Personalized outreach at scale
MentionAgent writes hyper-personalized outreach emails for every prospect, referencing their specific content and context. Follow-ups included.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moSubject line ideas
| Context | Subject line |
|---|---|
| Networking event | "Great connecting at [Event Name]" |
| Conference | "Your point about [topic] at [Conference]" |
| Sales meeting | "Next steps from our meeting" |
| Job interview | "Thank you for the conversation about the [Role] position" |
| Mutual intro | "Nice meeting you through [Name]" |
| Lunch/dinner | "Enjoyed our lunch conversation" |
| Virtual call | "Good connecting today" |
Test your subject line before sending with our free Email Subject Line Tester.
What's the most important element of a post-meeting follow-up email?
Exactly! A specific reference proves the email isn't a template and helps the recipient remember who you are. It's the difference between "nice meeting you" and a reply.
The specific reference is the key. It proves you were actually paying attention during the conversation and helps them remember who you are among the dozens of people they met.
Tips for better post-meeting emails
- Deliver on promises. If you said you'd share an article, link, or introduction, do it in this email. It builds trust immediately.
- Be specific. "Your point about customer retention metrics" beats "our interesting conversation." Personalization is what separates a reply from a delete.
- Suggest a concrete next step. "Are you free Tuesday at 2pm?" beats "Let's keep in touch."
- Keep it short. 3–5 sentences. They're busy. You're busy. Respect the clock.
- Match their formality. If your conversation was casual, don't send a stiff corporate email. Mirror the tone of how you actually spoke.
- Consider the channel. If you connected on LinkedIn first, you might also want to understand how InMail credits work for future outreach.
For deeper personalization techniques, see our guide on the Basho email method. Need more follow-up scenarios? Check our complete follow-up email templates collection.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should you send a "pleasure meeting you" email?
Within 24 hours. The interaction is still fresh in both your minds, and a quick follow-up shows you're organized and genuinely interested. Waiting more than 48 hours significantly reduces the chance of a meaningful reply.
What should the subject line be for a post-meeting email?
Reference the context of your meeting. Examples: "Great meeting you at [event name]", "Following up from our chat about [topic]", or simply "Nice connecting today." Avoid generic subjects like "Following up" with no context.
How long should a pleasure meeting you email be?
3–5 sentences maximum. Mention something specific from your conversation, reference any commitments made, and suggest a clear next step. Brevity shows respect for their time.
Should I send a follow-up if they don't reply?
One follow-up after 5–7 days is fine if you had a substantive conversation and there was a clear reason to stay in touch. Keep it brief and add new value rather than just asking "did you see my email?"
Is "it was a pleasure meeting you" too formal?
It depends on context. For business meetings and conferences, it's appropriate. For casual introductions, "Great meeting you" or "Really enjoyed our chat" feels more natural. Match the formality level of your actual conversation.