Cold messages to people in my field, do they work?, insurance claims processor here

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. There are 5 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. I worry about bothering people. What did you ask?

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

I wrote three short lines: who I am, why them and a small ask for fifteen minutes. About one in four said yes.