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

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. Some people reply with short answers. What did you ask?

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.

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