Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 12 months and counting

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I have been trying to stay organised about it. I worry about bothering people. Did any turn into leads?

I wrote three short lines: who I am, why them and a small ask for fifteen minutes. About one in four said yes.

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It made the follow-up calls so much easier.