Cold messages to people in my field, do they work? - what worked for you?

I want to talk to people in a new field but I hate cold messages. I am in Buffalo, in case local advice matters. Some people reply with short answers. 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 asked what they wish they had known at my stage. People enjoy answering that.