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. It has been a long 14 weeks. Some people reply with short answers. How do you phrase the request?

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

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