Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 14 months and counting

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I want advice, not a job directly. What did you ask?

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

Follow up with a thank-you and a short update. One of my chats led to a referral a month later.