One of the things you're going to want to earn the absolute most in this game are love gems. Love gems (known as loveca stones in the Japanese version of the game) are the premium currency of Love Live School Idol Festival. The main thing you'll see people spending love gems on is honor scouting, as that's how you're going to get rarer cards. You'll find yourself earning gold pretty easily, but not so much with love gems. There are easy ways to earn love gems though so don't worry. Compared to other free-to-play mobile games, Love Live SIF is actually quite generous with giving away love gems.
What are the ways you can earn love gems?
There are quite a few ways of earning love gems in the game. These ways are listed below.
1. Log in every day: Every day, when you log into the game for the first time for the day (the in game day being based off of UTC or JST depending on if you're playing the English or Japanese version of the app), you're given a reward. These rewards are usually friend points or gold, but a couple of times a month, you'll be given a free love gem just for opening the app and starting the game.
2. First Live Bonus: Similar to the login bonuses given everyday, you're also able to earn one free love gem every single day by playing and completing at least one live show.
3. Special Login Bonuses: Occasionally, there will be special login bonuses for certain special occasions as well as the standard login bonuses. These special login bonuses often give out free love gems as well. An example of a special login bonus screen is shown below.
1. Log in every day: Every day, when you log into the game for the first time for the day (the in game day being based off of UTC or JST depending on if you're playing the English or Japanese version of the app), you're given a reward. These rewards are usually friend points or gold, but a couple of times a month, you'll be given a free love gem just for opening the app and starting the game.
2. First Live Bonus: Similar to the login bonuses given everyday, you're also able to earn one free love gem every single day by playing and completing at least one live show.
3. Special Login Bonuses: Occasionally, there will be special login bonuses for certain special occasions as well as the standard login bonuses. These special login bonuses often give out free love gems as well. An example of a special login bonus screen is shown below.
4. Beat expert songs and master songs: For simply beating an expert or master song for the first time, you'll receive one free love gem. Getting a full combo on an expert song for the first time will also give you a free love gem. Beating an expert song 120 times will give you a free love gem. Getting an S score on a master song for the first time will give you two love gems. Getting a full combo on a master song (which is not very easy) will also give you two free love gems for your effort.
5. Reading Side Stories: Reading any card's side story for the first time will give you one love gem. Because of this, newer players are recommend to idolize and fill the bond meter of as many cards as they can to earn lots of love gems quickly.
6. Logging in on each μ's and Aqours members' birthday: If you login on the day it is one of the 18 idols' birthdays, you will receive five free love gems.
7. Event Rewards: Many of the rewards given during events are free love gems.
8. Buying Them in the Shop: If you're desperate for a certain card that has come out recently and don't have enough gems to do honor scouting, you can buy them in the shop menu for real money. Love gems can be expensive though, so don't buy too many if you have more important things to buy instead.
A very specific guide on just about every instance you can earn free gems can be found here (credit goes to SurprisdArvn for writing this). It's worth noting that this guide applies to the English version of the game and not the Japanese version of the game.
5. Reading Side Stories: Reading any card's side story for the first time will give you one love gem. Because of this, newer players are recommend to idolize and fill the bond meter of as many cards as they can to earn lots of love gems quickly.
6. Logging in on each μ's and Aqours members' birthday: If you login on the day it is one of the 18 idols' birthdays, you will receive five free love gems.
7. Event Rewards: Many of the rewards given during events are free love gems.
8. Buying Them in the Shop: If you're desperate for a certain card that has come out recently and don't have enough gems to do honor scouting, you can buy them in the shop menu for real money. Love gems can be expensive though, so don't buy too many if you have more important things to buy instead.
A very specific guide on just about every instance you can earn free gems can be found here (credit goes to SurprisdArvn for writing this). It's worth noting that this guide applies to the English version of the game and not the Japanese version of the game.
Does this have a video guide as well?
Yes it does. This video basically goes over mostly what was said above, but if you're not a big fan of reading, or you're confused about something, maybe this video can clear things up. Some of the things in this video are outdated, but most of them can be done still. If you open this video up on the YouTube website, you can find more details in the description of that video.