I just attend a BNI business networking event this morning in Rockefeller Center here in Manhattan. This is an opportunity for business people and entrepreneurs to network and give their elevator pitches to a room full of 35 colleagues. Here is a list of the three most common blunders:

1. Starting off with “good morning, my name is…” This is boring and you were already introduced.
2. Listing educational and certification credentials. No one cares that you spend 90 hours on a mortgage broker study course.
3. Ad slogans don’t work in a 30 second into—leave those for your brochure or business card.

Here are three tips on how to be more effective at elevator pitches:

1. The first thing out of your mouth should be about how you help people who are just like the people in your audience.
2. Give specific, concrete examples.
3. Offer to give away a free special report, video, handout or something else of value to people so that they will approach you to learn more about what you do.