Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 2 months and counting

I sent 9 messages on a professional network and got two replies. I am in Jacksonville, in case local advice matters. Some people reply with short answers. How do you phrase the request?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 2 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

I asked what they wish they had known at my stage. People enjoy answering that.