Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - 22 weeks in

I sent 5 messages on a professional network and got two replies. I have been trying to stay organised about it. I want advice, not a job directly. How do you phrase the request?

Do not apologise for asking. Most people remember someone who helped them.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 3 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.