All of these things have been said and heard before. Tell stories from your real-world experiences that relate to the concept that you are teaching. Tell stories about the people who developed the concept. Tell stories about your research and how it uses the concept. People respond to personal attention Given a choice between two banks, two grocery stores, two gas stations or whatever, people will tend to gravitate toward the establishment that offers personal attention.
Students are people, and they respond the same way.
Students work harder for someone who knows them. Know the names of your students. Say hello to your students when you see them. Take time to stop and talk to students. Come to class early and talk to people.