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

I sent 18 messages on a professional network and got two replies. I worry about bothering people. Did any turn into leads?

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

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 8 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.