Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? after 12 years as a customer-service rep

I sent 12 messages on a professional network and got two replies. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I worry about bothering people. How do you phrase the request?

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

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