Cold messages to people in my field, do they work?

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I want advice, not a job directly. What did you ask?

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

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