Branding is more then just a logo, it’s the entire package. You might recognize Derek Stroup’s work illustrating this in food packaging with the logo removed. Shape, colour, texture, and other things work in harmony and support the brand, making the packaging recognizable even without the logo.
Your blog should be no different. Without the logo is the site still recognizable as being your brand, or does it begin to blend in with all the other blogs out there? Do the subtle visual elements engender a relationship with your brand, or just whatever might be on the page regardless of your brand?
you are right branding simply doesnt mean logo.it is your blog as a whole package and the way you present it.
Branding should also be consistent. Every promotional material should have the same picture, logo, layout etc. People will recognize your "brand" in just a glance.