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

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. I have been trying to stay organised about it. Some people reply with short answers. Did any turn into leads?

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

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.